The research,done by the UNSW City Futures Research Centre for the Community Housing Industry Association,shows the number of households in housing stress is expected to climb from 640,000 in last year’s census to 940,000 by 2041.
Sydney alone is expected to have 225,000 households in stress within two decades,up 56 per cent from 2021. Areas around the city’s inner south-west including Punchbowl and Kogarah,the Parramatta region and Liverpool already have the highest proportion of people in stress.
The number of Melbourne households in stress is forecast to climb by more than 61 per cent,to 177,000,with the city’s west,south-east and inner suburbs all suffering the toughest conditions.
Ryan van den Nouwelant from the City Futures Research Centre said the research should be used to help guide the Housing Accord,announced in last month’s budget,which aims to build 1 million “well-located” homes,including some non-market housing,over five years from 2024.
“There are Australians with unmet housing needs in all parts of the country. This research identifies the type and location of housing that is needed to meet the needs of the most vulnerable parts of the community,” he said.
“It is a valuable reminder of the housing challenges Australia faces and should inform the priorities in the government’s Housing Accord.”