As a new report reveals hundreds of thousands of Australians are in need of social housing while rents are expected to remain high for years, Everybody's Home is urging the Federal Government to take bold action to fix the mess.
The National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation estimates that conservatively 377,600 households are in need of social and affordable housing either due to rental stress or homelessness. Other estimates put that figure as high as 640,0000.
The Corporation also anticipates rents will remain high over the next couple of years as demand rises while shortages of multi-density dwellings for rent are expected.
Everybody's Home spokesperson Maiy Azize said the government's actions needed to match the scale of the worsening crisis.
"Report after report shows how dire the housing crisis is in Australia yet the national response is slow-moving. Hundreds of thousands of Australians are suffering due to their inability to secure a safe, affordable place to call home and that won't change without drastic Federal Government action," Ms Azize said.
"To tackle the housing crisis and end the massive shortfall in social housing, the government must build 25,000 social homes every year for the next 20 years.
"The government must also fix the housing tax system by ending handouts for landlords and using the money to build social and affordable homes.
"With the budget only weeks away, the Federal Government must take this opportunity to improve the lives of Australians doing it tough. The Government knows what the solutions are to fix the housing crisis, and it has the money. Now they need to show that they care enough to act."
