Housing affordability for disadvantaged groups: practical solutions?

Abstract

Housing is vitallyl important to the stability and well being of Australia's households. Over the last three decades or so it has become evident that buying and renting housing has become increasingly difficult for many Australians. Housing stress has become an important issue in many peoples' lives and, importantly, has been recognised as a policy challenge and priority for governments in Australia. This paper briefly examines what is meant by housing affordability, how many households in Australia are affected, who is affected, what the barriers are to affordable housing and examines some practical responses to addressing the issue.