A new report reveals a staggering disparity in housing security for First Nations Australians. One in eight Indigenous households struggle with unaffordable rents, overcrowding, or homelessness, a rate nearly double that of the general Australian population. The report highlights the urgent need for government action to address this crisis and ensure access to safe, stable, and affordable housing for all Indigenous Australians.
Sarah Williams knows the reality of trying to find an affordable place to live when you're in crisis.
When Sarah finally found herself a home, she could only afford rent thanks to a subsidy from the NSW Rent Choice Youth scheme.“I was only on Centrelink and the money I was making from work was not enough to pay $400-$600 a week rent by myself.” It also found the squeeze on social housing has pushed more low-income Indigenous people into the private rental market.
And if nothing changes, the report projects First Nations people will need 72,000 more social housing units to meet current and future demand in the next 20 years.First Nations housing advocates warn housing is essential to living healthy, happy lives. "Without a safe and secure home, you're not going to have the right health benefits of a healthy home, you're going to have issues with child safety, you're going to have issues across the justice system."
"I think this has meant a really fragmented and disjointed approach when it comes to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander housing, which often results in a lack of accountability," Associate Professor Moskos said. It also pointed to the $10 billion federal fund that aims to build 30,000 new social and affordable homes for all Australians, and the $4 billion, ten-year plan to deliver homes in the NT's remote communities.
ABORIGINAL HOUSING HOMELESSNESS OVERCROWDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING SOCIAL HOUSING
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