Soaring home prices lock Australia’s homeless out
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.