‘A pathway to where?’ Inquiry into understanding and reimagining social housing pathways

Abstract

AHURI AHURI is a national independent research network with an expert not-for-profit research management company, AHURI Limited, at its centre. AHURI's mission is to deliver high quality research that influences policy development and practice change to improve the housing and urban environments of all Australians. Using high quality, independent evidence and through active, managed engagement, AHURI works to inform the policies and practices of governments and the housing and urban development industries, and stimulate debate in the broader Australian community. AHURI undertakes evidence-based policy development on a range of priority policy topics that are of interest to our audience groups, including housing and labour markets, urban growth and renewal, planning and infrastructure development, housing supply and affordability, homelessness, economic productivity, and social cohesion and wellbeing. AHURI Limited also gratefully acknowledges the contributions, both financial and in-kind, of its university research partners who have helped make the completion of this material possible. Disclaimer The opinions in this report reflect the views of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of AHURI Limited, its Board, its funding organisations or Inquiry panel members. No responsibility is accepted by AHURI Limited, its Board or funders for the accuracy or omission of any statement, opinion, advice or information in this publication. AHURI journal AHURI Final Report journal series is a refereed series presenting the results of original research to a diverse readership of policy makers, researchers and practitioners. Peer review statement An objective assessment of reports published in the AHURI journal series by carefully selected experts in the field ensures that material published is of the highest quality. The AHURI journal series employs a double-blind peer review of the full report, where anonymity is strictly observed between authors and referees.

The lived experience of COVID-19: housing and household resilience

“…Social housing tenants benefited from their tenure, although they had little opportunity to choose a home that suited their individual conditions and preferences before the pandemic, and thus were experiencing housing stress other than housing affordability stress. This finding concurs with previous research that has highlighted the often complex needs of social housing tenants, the community context and the limited capabilities to move to other housing (Muir, Powell et al 2020). A significant expansion of social housing stock would facilitate more choice, as well as give access to housing for a much larger number of households, which we now know are in precarious work conditions where they require secure housing options.…”

Housing and housing assistance pathways with companion animals: risks, costs, benefits and opportunities

“…This is related to the long-term and dynamic impacts of housing affordability pressures that have challenged the housing aspirations and opportunities (Stone, Rowley et al 2020a;Yates 2016 of increasing proportions of Australian households (Burke, Stone et al 2014;Burke, Nygaard et al 2020), across more than two decades. Transitions include changed housing pathways and increasingly long-term occupancy, for growing proportions of Australians, in housing tenures that have previously been considered transitional pathways to home ownership-most notably privately rented housing (Stone, Sharam et al 2015;Burke, Stone et al 2014;Muir, Powell et al 2020). Transitions also include the growing density of the built form in urban and regional Australia which is bringing people closer to their own companion animals within the household, and to those owned by others in their neighbourhood.…”

“…Part of the PRS is comprised of those in receipt of direct forms of housing assistance, including Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA) and Private Rental Assistance (PRA) (schemes such as bond support and transitional support mechanisms for tenants moving within and into or out of the sector (Muir, Powell et al 2020). Residential mobility rates within private rental remain higher than for either social housing (which now houses approximately only 4% of households) or home ownership (approximately 67%).…”

“…Residential mobility rates within private rental remain higher than for either social housing (which now houses approximately only 4% of households) or home ownership (approximately 67%). With the heightened mobility associated with the PRS comes an increased probability of households in private rental, relative to home owners, moving into or out of other tenures and living arrangements, including public and community housing (Muir, Powell et al 2020;Baker, Leishman, et al 2020). , in their analysis of the changing institutional and governance context of the PRS, identify the need for, and proliferation of, a range of intermediaries-including dedicated financiers, brokers and agents-coupled with new regulatory agencies to oversee the sector.…”

Housing and housing assistance pathways with companion animals: risks, costs, benefits and opportunities

“…This is related to the long-term and dynamic impacts of housing affordability pressures that have challenged the housing aspirations and opportunities (Stone, Rowley et al 2020a; Yates 2016 of increasing proportions of Australian households (Burke, Stone et al 2014;Burke, Nygaard et al 2020), across more than two decades. Transitions include changed housing pathways and increasingly long-term occupancy, for growing proportions of Australians, in housing tenures that have previously been considered transitional pathways to home ownership-most notably privately rented housing (Stone, Sharam et al 2015;Burke, Stone et al 2014;Muir, Powell et al 2020). Transitions also include the growing density of the built form in urban and regional Australia which is bringing people closer to their own companion animals within the household, and to those owned by others in their neighbourhood.…”