Cost of living, housing crisis drive surging demand for homelessness support in 2022

A new analysis has found financial difficulties and housing affordability stress skyrocketed in 2022, driving a surge in demand for homelessness support, with NSW, WA, Tasmania and SA worst affected. The analysis of Australian Institute of Health and Welfare figures has been released as advocates warn the situation will deteriorate in 2023 unless there is a significant expansion of social and affordable housing, Commonwealth Rent Assistance and deeper funding support for homeslessness support providers. According to the analysis, an additional 8,408 Aussies suffered finance and housing issues severe enough to prompt them to seek specialist homeless support in 2021-22, an increase of 9.2 per cent.

But the increase was worst in Tasmania. Tasmania posted a 18.9% increase, NSW, a 10.4% increase and Western Australia a 15.4% cent increase. South Australia posted a 12.9% increase, Homelessness Australia CEO, Kate Colvin, warned that urgent attention was needed. “When the number of Australians seeking homelessness support because of finance and housing issues nudges double digits, the alarm should be sounding loudly. “Australia has record low unemployment and on the back of commodity prices, some of the healthiest public finances in the world. We can do more to assist people who have been left behind. “Many of us are enjoying holidays and Christmas feasts at this time of year, but spare a thought for the almost 100,000 Aussies seeking homelessness support because the cost of living and housing was just too much to bear. “Recent initiatives from the Commonwealth to expand social and affordable housing are very welcome but the scale of this problem is expanding, not shrinking. As a society, our new year’s resolution should be to get serious about housing stress and homelessness. “All Australians deserve a stable, secure home. This should be a right, not a privilege.”