helping people out of homelessness and into a home
Homelessness is a growing crisis in Australia, primarily because of the lack of affordable and social housing. We can see this in increasing interest rates and rising house prices leading to an unstable rental market. Low-income groups are squeezed out of the homebuyer market and landlords need to put up rental fees or sell – leaving people unable to afford the rent rise or unable to find a new home to rent.
The experience of homelessness can be defined in many different ways and stretches across many cohorts of people, including people living in crisis accommodation, rough sleeping or those in temporary housing. Being homeless can mean more than not having a roof over your head and is not just one typical experience. Every Australian deserves to have a home.
The various natural disasters – from fire to flood – in the past few years have destroyed homes and further intensified the pressure in the rental market. Less social housing for a growing population also increases the demands on affordable housing and fuels the homelessness crisis.
But that’s not all that’s contributing to Australia’s growing homelessness crisis. During COVID-19 lockdowns, more women experienced family and domestic violence, which is a leading cause of homelessness. Additionally, reduced incomes from COVID, unexpected job losses and failed businesses, plus the rising cost of living from petrol prices to power bills and weekly grocery shopping are making times tough right now.
A survey of Australians in June 2022 shows 63 per cent are extremely concerned about rising grocery costs. Additionally, 45 per cent are concerned about the cost of rent, with them concerned with house prices rising.
[Source: Australia Now Report, June 2022.]
Individuals and families of all ages and walks of life are finding themselves stressed, struggling and at risk of losing their home. Home should be a place of refuge and security, but instead it’s hard to pay the bills. There is a family crisis, that creates instability, uncertainty and unsafe environment.
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