National plan is an important step — but too many people are still being locked out of safe, secure housing.
Mission Australia has welcomed the release of the Federal Government’s Homes for Australia: A National Plan, saying it is an important acknowledgement of the housing and homelessness crisis facing Australians, while calling for stronger investment and action to match the scale of need.
The Plan outlines national priorities including increasing housing supply, growing social and affordable housing, improving conditions for renters, supporting home ownership, closing the housing gap for First Nations peoples, and strengthening responses to homelessness and family and domestic violence.
Mission Australia Deputy CEO Ben Carblis said the release of the National Plan reflected the growing reality that too many Australians are struggling to keep a roof over their heads.
“We welcome the release of a National Plan and the recognition that housing and homelessness is one of the biggest challenges facing Australia today,” Mr Carblis said.
“It’s encouraging to see homelessness supports and social and affordable housing, recognised as national priorities.
“But for people already skipping meals to pay rent, sleeping in cars, couch surfing, or facing impossible choices every week, change cannot come slowly.
“While the Plan brings together important existing commitments, we need significant new investment and urgent action if we are going to turn this crisis around.”
Mission Australia continues to call for:
- At least one in every 10 homes nationally to be social and affordable housing by 2045
- A dedicated $500 million Homelessness Prevention Transformation Fund to help people before they reach crisis point
- New transitional housing and support for 15,000 young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness each year
- Ten new 40-unit Youth Foyers, including three First Nations-led Youth Foyers, to help young people build stable futures through housing, education and employment support
- Long-term, culturally safe and community-led housing solutions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Raise the maximum threshold for Commonwealth Rent Assistance by 60% and ensure it remains an effective payment for those struggling to pay rent.
More Australians are being pushed to breaking point
Mr Carblis said Mission Australia teams across the country were seeing more people reaching crisis point because they simply cannot find or afford a safe place to live.
“Every day, we support people who never imagined they would face homelessness,” he said.
“We’re seeing working families unable to keep up with rent, older women facing homelessness later in life, young people with nowhere safe to go, and women and children trying to escape violence with very few housing options available to them.
“There simply aren’t enough affordable homes for the people who need them most.
“With more than 250,000 households waiting for social housing across Australia, we need much greater ambition and investment to make sure everyone has access to a safe and secure home.”
Prevention and early support can change lives
Mr Carblis said homelessness prevention and early support must be given a greater priority in Australia’s response.
“We know prevention works. When people can access support early, they are far more likely to stay safely housed and avoid reaching crisis point,” he said.
“Our evidence shows that with tenancy support, almost all people we work with are able to remain housed and avoid homelessness.
“Investing earlier changes lives. It helps keep families together, supports young people to stay connected to education and work, and reduces pressure on already stretched crisis services.
“We also welcome the Plan’s focus on improving housing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and young people, who continue to experience disproportionately high rates of housing insecurity and homelessness.
“A safe home is the foundation for wellbeing, stability and opportunity. This Plan sets an important direction. Now we need the investment and collective action to make sure everyone has a safe, secure home and no one is left behind.”
Read Mission Australia's Budget submission here.