Specialist research, policy and advocacy for First Nations housing was bought together under one roof last Friday with the opening of a new office for the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Association – NATSIHA.
The office at Kogarah, meaning ‘place of reeds’ for the traditional custodians, the Kameygal and Bediagal people in Sydney, was opened today at a launch attended by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and advocates from across the housing and homelessness sector.
NATSIHA is the peak housing body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It works to optimise overall health and wellbeing, and improve employment opportunities, access to education, and connection to the community through developing and managing affordable, safe and quality homes that meet our community’s needs.
The 2021 Census showed 24,930 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people were estimated to be experiencing homelessness, up 6.4% from 23,437 in 2016. This represents one in five (20.4%) people experiencing homelessness in Australia. Of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experiencing homelessness at the time of the 2021 Census:
* Three in five (60.0%) were living in ‘severely’ crowded dwellings
* Almost one in five (19.1%) were in supported accommodation for the homeless
* Nearly one in ten (9.3%) were living in improvised dwellings, tents, or sleeping out.
Ivan Simon, CEO of NATSIHA, said the NATSIHA was determined to power progress on First Nations housing. “There is an enormous challenge ahead of us but NATSIHA is determined to bring solutions to the table, Housing is at the centre of our lives, and we have an enormous challenge ahead of us to bring solutions to the key challenges of lack of supply of affordable housing and severe overcrowding. We are here for the long haul.”
The Hon Linda Burney MP, Minister for Indigenous Australians, said “Access to safe and affordable housing is crucial to the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It affects so many other outcomes, like health, education and family safety. Community housing is key to restoring agency and control to First Nations people. I congratulate NATSIHA on the opening of their office and look forward to working with them in future.”
Rob Macfarlane, COO of NASTIHA said: “The establishment of NATSIHA brings together some of the most passionate and committed advocates and practitioners in First Nations housing into one organisation, driving progress at a national level. We know that a critical part of the solution to the appalling housing disadvantage our people are experiencing is to build the capacity of the community controlled sector that understands and knows how to best meet our community’s needs”
Emma Greenhalgh, CEO of National Shelter said their relationship with NATSIHA said they are looking forward to learning from the NATSIHA team, “We have formalised the relationship between National Shelter and NATSIHA, and our role is to support and amplify NATSIHA, ensuring that our work bring together allies to deliver on our shared goal housing affordability for everyone.”
Kate Colvin, CEO of Homelessness Australia said “We have to know the right questions to ask, and that is where NATSIHA is so important, bringing a national voice to advocate for housing and people experiencing homelessness, in recognition of the significantly higher risk of homelessness for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”
Wendy Hayhurst, CEO of Community Housing Industry Association said NATSIHA’s advocacy and policy agenda was strong and focussed. “In the short time since NATSIHA was established it has already influenced policy and debate around one of Australia’s most difficult social challenges. It’s essential that we have a community led peak that can focus just on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander housing at the national level. We cannot talk about housing without talking about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander housing, to inform and enrich the policy and debate around one of Australia’s most difficult social challenges. We are committed to collaborating with NATSIHA and supporting its crucial work.”
