Submission to the Senate Economics References Committee Inquiry on Social Housing

Overview

Mission Australia's submission to the Senate Economics References Committee inquiry on social housing examines the role of social and affordable rental housing in preventing homelessness and supporting economic, health and social outcomes. The submission highlights growing demand for social housing, increasing waitlists and the need for sustained government investment to address unmet housing need. Mission Australia recommends recognising social and affordable housing as essential social infrastructure, establishing long-term funding mechanisms, setting national housing targets, strengthening homelessness prevention measures, supporting community housing providers and improving existing housing stock.

Key recommendations

Mission Australia calls on Federal, State and Territory governments to:

• Recognise social and affordable housing as essential social infrastructure.
• Establish national targets to increase social and affordable housing supply.
• Create enduring funding mechanisms to support long-term housing delivery.
• Support community housing providers as key delivery partners.
• Strengthen homelessness prevention initiatives and tenancy sustainment supports.
• Develop a national supportive housing framework.
• Improve the quality, sustainability and climate resilience of existing social housing.

Key issues addressed

Social housing supply

The submission notes that social housing has declined as a proportion of Australia's total housing stock and argues that long-term government investment is required to increase supply and meet growing demand.

Affordable rental housing

The submission highlights the importance of affordable rental housing for households that are ineligible for social housing but unable to access suitable housing in the private rental market.

Homelessness prevention

Mission Australia emphasises the role of social and affordable housing in preventing homelessness and recommends increased investment in tenancy sustainment and early intervention measures.

Community housing providers

The submission outlines the contribution community housing providers make to delivering and managing social and affordable housing and recommends policies that support their long-term role in the housing system.