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New data has revealed that Victoria is grappling with an unprecedented housing crisis, with more people in housing stress than any other part of Australia. Housing advocates have urged the government to urgently act on social housing, pointing out that the state needs over 6,000 new homes each year for the next decade.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reported that “the top 10 months on record for people in housing stress visiting specialist homelessness services all belong to Victoria.”
Victoria’s numbers are critical, with approximately 30% more individuals in housing stress and seeking assistance compared to New South Wales or Queensland. This is in the face of Victoria having the lowest amount of social housing as a proportion of total housing stock in Australia, with just 2.9% of dwellings being public or community housing.
“These unprecedented levels of housing stress will increase homelessness unless we act urgently to build more social housing,” Council to Homeless Persons CEO Deborah Di Natale said in a statement.
Public Housing
Di Natale pointed out that Victoria was behind the rest of the country on public and community housing. “Around 6,000 new homes (are) needed each year for a decade as a bare minimum,” she said.
The recent Census data paints a grim picture, showing a 24% increase in homelessness in Victoria. On Census night in 2021, over 30,000 Victorians were without a home – a shocking increase of almost 6,000 people compared to the 2016 Census. The cost of living crisis has worsened the situation on the ground.
“While some economic indicators show inflation is moderating, it’s clear from these figures the housing crisis is actually getting worse. Rising rents and low vacancy rates are pushing people to the brink of homelessness,” Di Natale said, adding, “Victoria’s failure to provide the basic human right of housing is leaving more people with no choice but to seek help from already-stretched homelessness services.”
As of March 2024, there were 58,459 applications for public and community housing on the waiting list. Di Natale urged the Victorian government to make building more social housing its number one priority.
Consequences Of Housing Stress
A recent report from the People’s Commission into the Housing Crisis, convened by Everybody’s Home, revealed the crushing consequences of housing stress and insecurity across Australia.
A survey of more than 120 frontline organizations revealed that 90% ranked stress or mental ill-health as one of the biggest impacts of the housing crisis on their clients. Alarmingly, 75% nominated homelessness as a major consequence, while 57% reported clients forgoing meals, medication, or other essential services.
“Too many Australians are staying in unsafe relationships, skipping meals, living with toxic mould, working insane hours, or moving away from loved ones just to keep a roof over their heads. Too many Australians are living in tents, caravans, on couches or the streets because there simply aren’t enough safe, decent, affordable homes for them,” said Everybody’s Home spokesperson Maiy Azize.
