New data reveals Victoria worst in Australia for housing stress

Victoria has more people in housing stress than any other state or territory, sparking urgent calls to build more social housing.

New Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data reveals the top 10 months on record for people in housing stress visiting specialist homelessness services all belong to Victoria.

Five of the past six months were in the top 10, making it clear the housing crisis is worsening.

Victoria has about 30 per cent more people in housing stress seeking help from homelessness services than NSW or Queensland.

Victoria also has the lowest amount of social housing as a proportion of total housing stock in Australia, with just 2.8 per cent of dwellings being public or community housing.

Council to Homeless Persons CEO Deborah Di Natale said:

“These unprecedented levels of housing stress will increase homelessness unless we act urgently to build more social housing.

“Victoria is desperately behind the rest of the country on public and community housing, with at least 6000 new homes needed each year for a decade as a bare minimum. 

“While some economic indicators show inflation is moderating, it’s clear from these figures the housing crisis is actually getting worse.

“Rising rents and low vacancy rates are pushing people to the brink of homelessness. 

“Victoria’s failure to provide the basic human right of housing is leaving more people with no choice but to seek help from already-stretched homelessness services.

“The Victorian government must make building more social housing its number one priority.” 

Fast facts:

• Homelessness in Victoria rose 24% at the last Census
• In 2021, more than 30,000 Victorians were without a home on Census night – almost 6,000 more than the previous Census in 2016
• In March, there were 58,459 applications for public and community housing on the waiting list
• Victoria lags behind every other state and territory on social housing, with public and community housing residents making up just 2.8% of Victoria’s households