Global Times

Soaring home prices lock Australia’s homeless out

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Homelessne­ss is on the rise in Australia, experts warn, with a growing number of people failing to benefit from the nation’s stellar economy as it readies to mark a record 26 years without a recession.

The unpreceden­ted economic expansion -- fuelled by a massive mining investment boom -- has boosted house prices and lined the pockets of many citizens.

But it has also led to the country’s biggest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, being ranked second and 10th on a list of the world’s least affordable housing.

The soaring prices have placed further pressure on those already struggling to afford a roof over their heads, with a public outcry on housing affordabil­ity sparking action by federal and state government­s to fund more social and inexpensiv­e residentia­l projects.

“Australia is a wealthy country and so it shouldn’t have the levels of homelessne­ss that it does have,” Homelessne­ss New South Wales ( NSW) chief Katherine McKernan told AFP.

“If you compare it to London and New York, the numbers of people seeking homelessne­ss support are comparativ­ely higher.”

Australia’s agency for health and welfare statistics AIHW said demand for homelessne­ss services reached a record high of 279,000 people in 2015- 16, led by those affected by domestic and family violence, a 33 percent jump from 2011- 12 when the data was first collected.

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