Homelessness amidst the housing crisis – how councils can help

As Australians deal with rising rent and mortgage repayments, more people are facing housing insecurity and its most severe consequence – homelessness. Here’s how these people can be supported.

Australia is in the grips of a housing crisis with rents across the nation soaring and many who have purchased their own property feeling the pinch when it comes to mortgage repayments. Home ownership, once seen as achievable and the Australian dream, is simply beyond reach for many. 

Thirty-seven per cent of South Australians, who took part in the Flinders Wicked Problems Report, which saw 30,000 Australians from across the nation voice the problems that matter to them the most, said housing unaffordability is one of the most pressing concerns for them right now.  

“I personally cannot afford to buy a home and am forced to keep renting with the owner rising the prices SIGNIFICANTLY every year now that there's a crisis,” one Report respondent commented.

In Adelaide, the median house price grew $11,119 (or 1.1 per cent) to $1,000,202 — surpassing the $1 million mark for the first time, according to data from Domain.

As all Australians deal with these concerns, and struggle to find suitable housing, more people are facing housing insecurity and its most severe consequence – homelessness. 

On any given night, about 122,500 people in Australia are homeless. This figure includes many children and young people. One in seven homeless people are kids aged under 12, and almost one in four are between 12 and 24 years old, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. 

We need to develop bold policy solutions that address taxation changes, large-scale social housing investment, and policies recognising housing as essential infrastructure and a human right. Investing in diverse housing options and effective homelessness policies with rapid response actions is crucial. 

 Toollkit helps councils help the homeless

As the housing crisis gets worse in Australia and more people struggle to find suitable living options, local councils now have a new tool to help them manage and prevent homelessness in their communities. 

The ‘Ending Homelessness: A Toolkit for Local Government’ is a resource created by the Flinders University Centre for Social Impact (CSI). The toolkit gives councils advice on understanding homelessness in their communities, how they can support people experiencing homelessness and the agencies working with them, as well as how to handle homelessness caused by natural disasters. 

Associate Professor Selina Tually from Flinders CSI says that rising financial stress and the lack of affordable housing have made homelessness a significant problem in many communities and councils are often the first-place people go to seek support, whether at the local library, the recreation centre or at the local council offices. 

"The current housing crisis means that councils are seeing more people experiencing, or at risk of homelessness, even in areas where this wasn't visible before," she says. 

"While some people sleeping rough are easy to see, other people experiencing homelessness are hidden from public view, but they still need support." 

The toolkit is a practical resource to help councils, whether they are just starting to create a strategy, working with other levels of government, or already actively trying to end homelessness. 

Flinders University experts developed the toolkit with input from the Local Government Association (LGA) of South Australia, councils, and other stakeholders. It is also supported by the South Australian Alliance to End Homelessness. 

“To build stronger communities, we need to tackle homelessness from multiple angles; with information and resources like this toolkit, councils can advocate for support and policies based on local needs,” Associate Professor Tually adds. 

The Centre for Social Impact works with businesses, governments, and not-for-profits to create social change. The Centre’s goal is to reduce social inequalities through research and education, helping people and communities grow and thrive now and in the future. 

Finding a stable home for some of the most vulnerable  

For populations who experience marginalisation such as refugees and asylum seekers, it's proving harder and increasingly expensive to find a suitable place to live. 

Research from Flinders University studied the lives of 25 refugees and asylum seekers over three years. The research found that access to housing that is stable, safe, and in good condition, as well as close to social connections and support services, is extremely important for both physical and mental health. 

Flinders Professor of Public Health, Anna Ziersch, who led the study, explains that finding a home is a big factor in feeling settled in a new country. But refugees can face extra challenges, like language barriers, a lack of understanding about how the housing system works, and not having the right documents or rental references. They might also face discrimination when applying for housing and have trouble finding housing near their friends and family. 

The study showed that problems finding the right housing can really hurt people's health. For example, one person felt constant anxiety about losing their home, one worried about respiratory problems from mould, and another had trouble sleeping because of noise and lack of privacy. 

Gemechu, who participated in the Flinders research, and came to Australia as a refugee with his family 13 years ago, told researchers that after being housed for three months as part of initial refugee support, he had to find a place of his own but didn't know how. He ended up couch surfing for about a year and living apart from other family members. This caused a great deal of stress and anxiety for him and his family, who had already experienced forced migration. 

The research highlights the need for better support for refugees and asylum seekers. The research suggests that this includes longer periods of supported housing for some people, more help with finding private rentals, collaboration with landlords and property managers, and programs to help connect people with their neighbours. Professor Ziersch says that, “feeling connected in your neighbourhood is hugely important for settling in and staying healthy.” 
 

At Flinders University, we are dedicated to finding solutions to complex challenges with research that matters. In a groundbreaking initiative, we asked 30,000 Australians from across the nation to voice the problems that matter to them the most in their local communities, resulting in The Flinders Wicked Problems Report. Read more here.