ABOUT AUSTRALIANS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING

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1 Who are Australians for Affordable Housing? Australians for Affordable Housing is a coalition of over 60 national housing, welfare and community sector organisations. The coalition will highlight the problem of housing affordability and call on all levels of government to make the changes necessary to ensure all Australians can find an affordable home. Why is Australians for Affordable Housing launching a campaign? The problem of housing affordability has gone on too long. Both federal and state governments can implement changes to make housing more affordable, yet successive governments have failed to do so. This means that millions of Australians continue to struggle with high housing costs. It s time to fix our housing system. What is needed? Housing markets are complex and interlinked and we need policy solutions that are similarly sophisticated and integrated. We need to ease the housing costs that put pressure on low and middle income households by addressing the problems that inflate house prices for first home buyers and make rental housing unaffordable. Governments at all levels influence the housing market through tax incentives, first home owners grants, affordable housing programs, planning controls and rent assistance. There is no overarching plan to drive these interventions and the result is they are not coordinated, often contradictory and ultimately ineffective. Australians for Affordable Housing believes that the goal of government housing policy should be to ensure that all Australian households can access affordable housing and that government action needs to be coordinated to deliver that goal. To do this we need a clear national plan to deliver affordable housing to all Australians that includes: Investment in more low cost rental housing; More opportunities for low income households to get into home ownership; Better financial assistance for low income renters; Initiatives to make home ownership more achievable for first home buyers; Changing the housing investment tax arrangements that drive up house prices; and A single cabinet level housing minister who is responsible for delivering these changes. AUSTRALIANS 1

2 Members and supporters The Australians for Affordable Housing campaign is driven by a steering group of national housing and welfare bodies including: Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) The Australian Council of Social Service is the peak body of the community services and welfare sector and the national voice for the needs of people affected by poverty and inequality. The current crisis in housing affordability affects all our members and the people they work with. A housing system that meets the needs of all Australians is at the heart of improving the lives of people experiencing poverty and disadvantage. Community Housing Federation of Australia (CHFA) The Community Housing Federation of Australia is the national industry body for community housing providers in Australia. Through the work of our members, we see the difference that low cost, affordable rental housing makes to people s lives, and yet we also see many more households on social housing waiting lists, struggling with housing costs. It s time to make sure all Australians can get affordable housing. Homelessness Australia Homelessness Australia is the national peak body working to prevent and respond to homelessness. We promote national policy and action to reduce homelessness and its impact on the diverse range of people it affects, through proactive research. We need a housing and support system that allows all Australians access to safe, secure, affordable and appropriate housing. National Shelter National Shelter is a peak non-government organisation that aims to improve housing access, affordability, appropriateness, safety and security for people who are on low-incomes, or who face disadvantage in the housing system. This campaign will help to raise the profile of housing issues in Australia, and call on governments across Australia to action. National Association of Tenants Organisations (NATO) Collectively NATO organisations advocate for the rights of tenants across Australia. Rising rents and low vacancy rates have seen problems for tenants escalate in recent years. Making housing better for both public and private tenants is critical to address our housing crisis. PowerHousing Australia PowerHousing Australia is a national trade association and business cooperative of growth community housing providers whose aim is to grow the supply of affordable housing in Australia. PowerHousing s members are dedicated to providing affordable housing. This campaign is critical to the organisation s aims, and to those people on low and middle incomes who are struggling with the high cost of housing. AUSTRALIANS 2

3 Other members include: Anglicare Victoria Affordable, safe and appropriate housing is the cornerstone of community life. But our recent snapshot of rental properties shows less than 1% of homes in metropolitan Melbourne were affordable to low income singles and families. Home ownership for this same group has become a distant and inaccessible dream. Anglicare Victoria supports the Australians for Affordable Housing campaign in an effort to shed light on these issues and improve housing opportunities for the most vulnerable in the state. Catholic Homes Catholic Homes actively supports the Australians for Affordable Housing campaign. As a provider of aged accommodation and retirement living for over 50 years, the organisation offers secure, low cost affordable housing which gives a real choice for some of the most vulnerable members of our community. Centacare Brisbane Centacare Brisbane is a highly diversified social service provider working with over 100,000 people in southeast Queensland. We are acutely aware of the difficulties that arise when individuals or families cannot secure suitable accommodation limited employment opportunities, poor education outcomes for children, and limited social opportunities, to name just a few. We commend the campaign to all Australian governments. Inner South Community Health Service Inner South Community Health Service is a major provider of health and community services in the inner southern region of Melbourne, where successive waves of gentrification have reduced the availability of safe, affordable housing for people on low incomes and pensions. Housing is fundamental to physical, mental and social well-being and quality of life. ISCHS is a proud supporter of Australians for Affordable Housing. MacKillop Family Services MacKillop Family Services is a leading provider of services for children, young people and their families in Victoria and New South Wales. We exist to foster hope and promote justice, and recognise that this campaign is crucial to making a positive difference in the lives of so many vulnerable Australians. Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia Homelessness is a key issue for people with a mental illness. As a result, people with a mental illness are unable to access the private rental market or public housing. Mental Illness Fellowship Victoria plans to advocate for this issue through the Australians for Affordable Housing initiative. AUSTRALIANS 3

4 Mind Australia Mind Australia is a community managed mental health service supporting people recovering from the effects of mental health problems. Recovery is about people finding ways to live well and achieve goals in the presence or absence of mental health symptoms. Mind sees approximately 5,000 people every year and this includes families and carers. Visit Mind s website www. mindaustralia.org.au for further information. Neami Neami is a national community recovery and rehabilitation service supporting 2,200 people with complex mental health/social needs. Our vision is full citizenship for people with a mental illness in Australian society. We know affordable and safe housing is the number no. 1 ticket to improved health and full citizenship for the clients we serve. We support the Australians for Affordable Housing Campaign. Sacred Heart Mission Sacred Heart Mission provides a range of services to address homelessness and disadvantage. Without access to affordable, safe and secure housing it becomes harder for the Mission to do its job. Unless we fix Australia s housing system we ll continue to see generations of Australians trapped in poverty. The Salvation Army The Salvation Army seek to ensure that homeless people and those at risk of homelessness have access to a home which affirms their human dignity, embraces them as part of the community and provides them with opportunities to participate in society. Families and individuals who do not have secure affordable housing are in effect without community. The Salvation Army is concerned at the increasing number of households experiencing housing stress due to increased cost of living and a lack of affordable housing options. The Salvation Army supports the efforts of Australians for Affordable Housing in raising this national issue and proposing a constructive way to address this challenge. St Vincent de Paul Society The St Vincent De Paul Society works to shape a more just and inclusive Australia. The provision of housing and the removal of structural causes of homelessness are core to our good works. We call on the government to address the consequences and root causes of the housing affordability crisis as a matter of urgency. AUSTRALIANS 4

5 Full list of membership of Australians for Affordable Housing Access Housing Abbeyfield Australia Affordable Community Housing Limited Anglicare South Australia Anglicare Victoria Argyle Community Housing Australian Council of Social Service Berry Street Bethanie Housing Group Beverley Jackson Foundation Blue CHP Bridge Housing Ltd CatholicCare, Archdiocese of Melbourne Catholic Homes Centacare, Ballarat Centacare Brisbane Centacare, Sandhurst Central Australian Affordable Housing Company City of Port Phillip Common Equity Housing Limited Community Housing Federation of Australia Compass Housing EW Tipping Foundation Foundation Housing Ltd Inner South Community Health Service Jesuit Social Services Junction Housing Good Samaritan Inn Haven; Home, Safe Homelessness Australia Homelessness Referral and Support Services Horizon Housing Company Housing Choices Australia Hume Community Housing MacKillop Family Services Melbourne City Mission Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia Mind Australia National Association of Tenants Organisations National Shelter Neami North Coast Community Housing Company Ltd Pacific Link Community Housing Port Phillip Housing Association Powerhousing Australia Regional Housing Limited Rural Housing Network Sacred Heart Mission Salvation Army Shekinah Homeless Services Shelter Northern Territory Southern Cross Community Housing Southern Cross Housing Ltd St George Community Housing Streetsmart Foundation Tenants Union of Victoria The Benevolent Society UnitingCare Ageing NSW ACT Unity Housing Company Ltd Vincentcare Victoria Victorian Council of Social Service Women s Housing Ltd Wentworth Community Housing YMCA Victoria AUSTRALIANS 5