Housing

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The Principles

Adequate housing is a basic human need, and is universally recognised as a fundamental human right. (Universal Declaration of Human Rights, No. 25)

All Australians have the right to adequate and affordable housing, which provides shelter, safety and privacy, and offers a reasonable security of tenure.

Housing and key housing priorities are joint responsibilities of Federal and State Governments.

People with special needs have a right to housing in close proximity to transport, employment and community services.

The Issues

Paradigm Shift.

In Australia, housing is no longer regarded as an entitlement, but as a safety net. There has been a move from a social welfare stance to a corporatist stance (Vinson Report).

Shortage of Public Housing.

In June 1996, 93,174 households in NSW were on official public housing waiting lists. In 2001, the official waiting list in NSW stood at 100,000 households (St Vincent de Paul Report 2001). The Humphries Report (2001) estimated that a $750M maintenance backlog would take at least 20 years to eliminate.

Continuing Increase in Homelessness.

At the time of the last election, it was estimated that there were more than 15,000.homeless people in NSW (Sydney City Mission). This number has increased in the past four years to almost 20,000. The Supported Accommodation Assistance Program estimated that in 2001, 10,000 people in NSW seeking a crisis bed were turned away. Data from SAAP shows that most homeless people were in private rental prior to becoming homeless.

Affordability.

Housing costs and affordability have increased significantly, exacerbated by the absence of market controls. As a result, ownership has slipped out of the reach of increasing numbers of Australians. In the 1990s median rents across NSW increased by at least twice the rate of inflation. 22% of all lower income households now live in housing which costs more than 30% of their income. There has been a change in the pattern of private renting, with growth at the top end of the socio-economic scale and a decline of 28% at the lower end (Shelter NSW).

Negative Impact of Large Housing Estates.

The Vinson Report showed significant concentrations of poverty in large public housing estates. In 2002, 92% of tenants in public housing were no longer in employment (Shelter NSW). Residents face discrimination in employment and social discrimination from people in neighbouring suburbs. Where public housing is well integrated with private housing, fewer such problems occur.

Reduction in Federal Funding.

Since the mid 1980s Federal Housing Funds have been cut by almost 50% in real terms (Shelter NSW), minimising both the growth in public housing and joint housing ventures between government and community agencies.

Social problems.

The negative impact of inadequate housing has been shown to increase the need for public spending on health, prisons and social welfare (Vinson Report).

Partnerships.

Community housing organizations have been increasingly pressured to assume greater responsibility for the provision of community housing alternatives. While community organizations have a role in working constructively with governments to provide community housing alternatives, the overall responsibility for housing rests with governments.

People With Special Needs.

People living with mental illness, developmental disability, or both of these conditions, are among the poorest and most disadvantaged in our community. They have few advocates. People with disabilities represent 17% of the population but number 39% of public housing tenants (St Vincent de Paul 2001).

The process of de-institutionalisation and the integration of people with disabilities into the community have been unsatisfactory. Money saved from de-institutionalisation has not gone into community care.

Many people under 50 with long-term mental illness require some level of support to help them retain tenancies in public housing or to survive in rooming houses. They are not eligible for Residential Aged Care or for Community Aged Care Packages because their disabilities are not age-related.

Frequently, they live in caravan parks, crisis refuges or on the streets.

The Alternatives

1. Specify a long-term commitment to the provision of adequate housing stock. (Current estimates by Shelter NSW call for the tripling of current stock, 2002).

2. Amend policy to include mandatory housing policies for Councils involved in new developments.

3. Ensure that Stamp Duty and Sales Tax are directed to affordable housing.

4. Establish legislative rights for boarders and lodgers.

5. Direct profits from Landcom into housing projects.

6. Integrate public and private housing in both city and rural areas.

7. Increase levels of rent assistance in areas of identified need and reviewing the Federal Rent Assistance program with the Commonwealth Government to ensure that people on low incomes are not paying more than 30% of their income for housing.

8. Establish incentives to encourage the development of affordable housing in the private sector.

9. Enhance the security of tenure of private renters.

10. Undertake housing initiatives in communities that are under stress because of long term unemployment.

11. Increase levels of rent assistance in areas of identified need.

12. Fund and develop with experienced NGOs new models of community housing for those with special needs, and providing funding to support these.

13. Provide special needs housing in areas close to transport.