Housing News Digest
Housing News Digest
The Tenants' Union Housing News Digest compiles our pick of items from all the latest tenancy and housing media, sent once per week, on Thursdays.
Below is the Digest archive from November 2020 onwards. From time to time you will find additional items in the archive that did not make it into the weekly Digest email. Earlier archives are here, where you can also find additional digests by other organisations.
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Archive
Homeless Sunshine Coast family finds housing, work and opportunities in Melbourne
Kylie Bartholomew, Tessa Mapstone, and Sheridan Stewart ABC (No paywall)The 31-year-old was born on the Sunshine Coast where four generations of her family have also called home. But when the rental property she was living in was sold in November 2020, Ms Liberty Page, her partner Aden Kingston, and their girls aged one and three were left homeless. They applied for hundreds of rental properties, and despite secure income and references they were forced to live in hotels and couch surf with friends.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-30/sunshine-coast-family-def…
# Australia, Rent, Housing affordability, Housing market.Millions of Australians paying more for rent now than ever before
Jennifer Bechwati (No paywall)We're talking about real families and real people whose incomes cannot keep up. (7 News)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qxf1fmHF6ss&ab_channel=7NEWSAust…
# TUNSW in the media, Audio Australia, Rent, Federal Government, Housing affordability.States disagree on access features for new housing – and open the gates to confusion, especially for trades
Jane Bringolf The Fifth Estate (No paywall)In December the Building Ministers’ Meeting will finalise the section of the National Construction Code relating to basic easy access features in all new homes. The decision to include these features, referred to as the Silver standard, was made in April this year. But this is not a done deal. Contrary to the spirit of a national building code, New South Wales and South Australia are refusing to adopt the Silver standard. They say it costs too much.
https://thefifthestate.com.au/innovation/residential-2/states-di…
# Australia, Housing market, Minimum habitability standards, State Government.Towards a Youth Homelessness Strategy for Victoria
Tom Alves and Christian Roggenbuck AHURI (No paywall)Young people are a significant group experiencing homelessness in Victoria. Compared to older cohorts, young people have distinctive pathways into, and experiences of homelessness. To effectively meet the needs of young people a youth-specific homelessness strategy is required in Victoria. Read more at: [https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/news/A-Youth-Homelessness-Strategy-is-needed-to-support-the-unique-needs-of-young-Victorians]
https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/professional-services/Towards-…
# Australia, Homelessness, Young people.Thursday Island residents blame public service for chronic housing, disease problems
Jemima Burt ABC (No paywall)Thursday Island is a pulsing hub of public service servicing the Torres Strait, but underneath all that administration and bureaucracy there is a festering problem. ... Waiben's original inhabitants, the Kaurareg people, were forcibly removed to Moa Island the early 1920s, but the island remains an important service centre for Torres Strait Islanders – who make up about a quarter of Thursday Island's population. ... The result is widespread homelessness and overcrowded housing among Thursday Island's Indigenous populations, with government housing occupying more than half of the island. Health authorities say the situation has led to the region having the highest rate of rheumatic heart disease in the country – a condition with links to overcrowded housing. While many public servants are offered subsidised rent, local people are being forced to pay mainstream rent in an inflated and unrealistic economy.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-30/public-service-drives-hom…
# Australia, Aboriginal renters, Health, Housing market.Shoalhaven Homeless Hub left without a home - in the middle of an accommodation crisis
Jessica Clifford ABC (No paywall)Hundreds of homeless people could be left without basic services if the Shoalhaven Homeless Hub is unable to find an alternative premises by Australia Day. The hub has been operating in its central Nowra location since 1994, however the landlord has indicated they would like the house back next year. Supported Accommodation and Homelessness Services Shoalhaven Illawarra (SASSHI) manager Lesley Labka said the main issue was a lack of rental properties in central Nowra and high rental prices.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-11/shoallhaven-homeless-hub-…
# NSW, Rent, Homelessness, Regional NSW.Young homeless people avoid 'unwelcoming' Perth CBD, putting strain on suburban services
James Carmody ABC (No paywall)The challenge of supporting vulnerable people on Perth's streets is becoming more complex, as one care agency reports an exodus of younger homeless people out of the CBD. Social services provider Anglicare WA said vulnerable young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness have reportedly been relocating to Perth's outer suburbs like Midland and Armadale.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-30/youth-homelessness-suppor…
# Australia, Homelessness.Tel Aviv overtakes Hong Kong, Paris and Zurich as most expensive city to live in
Martin Farrer The Guardian (No paywall)Tel Aviv has been ranked the world’s most expensive city to live in thanks to the rapid rise in inflation that has pushed up the cost of a whole range of goods and services across the world in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. ... with Sydney up one to 14, and Melbourne up two to 16.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/01/tel-aviv-overtakes…
# International, Housing market.