New research from Launch Housing has found that Australians are concerned about homelessness, housing and living costs, and their children’s ability to afford housing. It also found that Australians have an expectation governments should do more to end homelessness.
Launch Housing Acting CEO Dr Heather Holst said the results of this research send a clear message to all sides of politics, that voters want action on homelessness and housing affordability.
“This quite clearly shows that people are concerned about homelessness, they are concerned about housing affordability, and they are concerned that not enough is being done,” said Holst. “Less than one in seven people we surveyed believe the government is taking sufficient action to address homelessness and voters are right to be worried.
“Australians believe that more people are at risk of homelessness today than they were in the past. But beyond that – people are concerned about their kids’ ability to afford housing in the future.”
Holst said voters are saying the government should be doing more.
“We know that a lack of affordable housing is a leading cause of homelessness and we need whoever is elected to take the sort of action that will make a difference,” she said.
“The National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness is due to expire in June 2017 and a commitment to continuing that is important, but only goes part of the way. We also need a government that will address the supply of social and affordable rental housing, boost rental support for low income households, and reform negative gearing.
“We’re committed to our mission to end homelessness, and this research shows that Australians want action from Government to make that happen.”
The research was conducted by Forethought, with the assistance of LightSpeed GMI. It surveyed Australians on their perceptions of homelessness, attitudes towards people who experience homelessness, housing affordability and government action to address these issues.