The high number of people experiencing homelessness in Australia highlights the need for urgent action to build more homes, says the Community Housing Industry Association.

ABS data published today shows that 122,494 people were estimated to be experiencing homelessness at the time of the 2021 Census, an increase of 6,067 people (5.2 per cent) since 2016.

The number of men experiencing homelessness increased by 1.6 per cent while the number of women increased by 10.1 per cent. Nearly a quarter (23 per cent) of all people experiencing homelessness were aged between 12 and 24 years.

With the homelessness rate remaining stubbornly high, urgent action is needed to improve access to affordable housing.

CHIA has supported the government’s Housing Australia Future Fund but believes more can be done to end rising homelessness for good.

“It is distressing that a nation as wealthy as Australia has so many people living without a place to call home,” said CHIA CEO Wendy Hayhurst. “The stats show that homelessness is disproportionately affecting young people and the sharp increase among women is shocking.

“We are now almost two years since the census and, with the rental market glowing red hot, it is sadly inevitable that the situation will have grown substantially worse

“The Housing Australia Future Fund is a great start that could be made even better by a regular top-up so that it generates a reliable, predictable source of funding for an ongoing social and affordable housing program.

“Because of our charitable status and excellent track record, Community Housing Organisations are well placed to deliver quality new homes at the best value to the taxpayer.”

CHIA research earlier this year found there are 640,000 Australian households whose housing needs are not being met, and this figure is projected to increase to 940,000 by 2041.

Full media release here

A new environmental, social and governance (ESG) standard for the community housing sector will be launched by the Housing Minister, the Hon. Julie Collins today.

The standard will provide a framework for Community Housing Providers (CHPs) to clearly report sustainability factors, helping providers to articulate their broad value and attract private sector investment to expand housing for people on low and modest incomes.

Full media release here

ESG Reporting standard here

Local government and community housing leaders are calling for urgent funding in the upcoming Federal Budget to address Australia’s affordable and social housing crisis.

The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), with support from the Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA) and National Shelter, is seeking $100 million per year over four years that would assist councils to facilitate more affordable and social housing across the nation. a

ALGA Vice President Mayor Matt Burnett said Australia’s 537 councils play a key role in facilitating affordable and social housing but could do much more with better funding partnerships.

“As a signatory to the National Housing Accord, ALGA is working collaboratively towards a national response to the worsening housing crisis,” Mayor Burnett said.

“The Government has set an ambitious target of delivering one million new homes from 2024, but this needs to be supported with funding that will enable councils to invest in the physical and social infrastructure necessary for healthy communities.

“Many councils across the country are already investing in innovative affordable housing solutions tailored to the needs of their local communities but more support is needed.

Full media release here

Community housing organisations will have access to a veteran homelessness toolkit under a partnership between the Community Housing Industry Association and the Australian Government.

The toolkit will help organisations offer tailored support to veterans and their families and set an industry standard for providing housing services to veterans. It will also outline risk factors to veteran homelessness and referral pathways. Recent research found 5.3 per cent of veterans experience homelessness each year, compared to 1.9 per cent of the general population, with half homeless for more than four weeks and a quarter described as chronically homeless.

CHIA CEO Wendy Hayhurst said this initiative is a positive first step to tackling veteran homelessness.
“Improving housing access for veterans is essential because we know from research that more than a third of veterans who experienced homelessness did not know where to go for help,” she said.
“This great initiative will help providers develop a deep understanding of veteran homelessness so they can provide top-rate support to their residents.” Ms Hayhurst said the toolkit is the latest example of how CHOs and government departments are working together to improve outcomes for veterans.

Full media release here

Access the resources for veterans here

CHIA has today released a landmark report, along with UNSW City Futures Research Centre, Quantifying Australia’s unmet housing need: A regional snapshot

A national and regional snapshot, as well as an interactive dashboard which provides a detailed breakdown of households with unmet need, can be viewed here.

In an op-ed for The Australian today, Wendy Hayhurst, CEO, CHIA explains why funding the sector is a win for residents as well as taxpayers.

The Housing Australia Future Fund should be expanded so it can build more social and affordable homes after a new survey re-affirmed their positive impact on society, the Community Housing Industry Association said today.

The National Housing Survey released today found social housing provided economic benefits to 97 per cent of tenants, health benefits to 96 per cent and social benefits to 93 per cent.

Some 73 per cent of tenants were satisfied with the services provided by their housing organisation. Community housing organisations achieved the highest satisfaction rating of 76 per cent.

CHIA’s CEO Wendy Hayhurst said the survey demonstrated the far reaching benefits of social and affordable housing.

Full release here

Housing Digital, a UK based digital news platform for housing professionals, has recently reported on the work that CHIA and a consortium of private and public sector partners have been leading on an ESG reporting framework.

As reported, ‘The Sustainability Reporting Standard (SRS) – launched in November 2020 by Sustainability for Housing (SfH) and The Good Economy – provides a common reporting framework for more than 100 housing associations, lenders, and investors.

The project has encouraged Australia’s Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA), along with 27 housing associations, to create their own ESG reporting standard.‘

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