Melbourne falls behind on homelessness and social housing

Melbourne fares badly in comparisons with other major Australian and world cities on homelessness and measures to combat it, a new survey reveals.

The Capital Cities Homelessness Index had Melbourne rank equal six overall of 10 major cities. Picture: Istock

Melbourne fares badly in comparisons with other major Australian and world cities on homelessness and measures to combat it, a new survey reveals.

Ranked against similar major international cities, including New York, London and Toronto, as well as Sydney and Adelaide, Melbourne sat well down the table for both per capita homelessness and available social housing.

The Capital Cities Homelessness Index had Melbourne rank equal six overall of 10 major cities, but Victoria’s capital sat at 8th in total homelessness per 100,000 residents and ninth on social housing as a percentage of total dwellings.

San Francisco was the lowest-ranked of the OECD cities in the report, with Dublin faring the best, the report, commissioned by ­advocacy organisation Launch Housing, finds. Adelaide was ­second, and Sydney equal third.

The report highlighted that housing availability was only part of the solution to reducing homelessness, Launch Housing chief executive Bevan Warner said.

“Cheaper rents, better income support and more affordable housing are needed to end homelessness, but more homes by themselves will not be enough,” he said. “The experience of London – which has the highest proportion of social housing of all 10 cities on the index, and yet very high rent stress and rates of homelessness – demonstrates that.

“Australia must build more ­affordable housing. But without the right prevention and support measures in place, paradoxically, we could end up with more homes and more street homelessness,” Mr Warner said.

During national homelessness week, Australian Bureau of Statistics head of homelessness research James Mowle said it was clear the numbers of homeless people was on the rise.

“Census data from 2021 shows a five per cent increase since 2016 to 122,000 people,” he said.

“The 2021 data reveals different trends in the make up of the homeless cohort than previously, for instance larger increases in ­females compared to males, especially younger females.

“This means policymaking is hard as you need to be tackling issues for lots of different group,” Mr Mowle said.

Between December and March, the number of people seeking homelessness assistance jumped 7.5 per cent, climbing to almost 96,000 in March, a Homelessness Australia report released last week found. Queensland had the biggest increase, up by 13 per cent in those four months, followed by Western Australia (11 per cent) and NSW (10 per cent).

Currently, about 175,000 households in Australia are on a waiting list for social housing, with a 10-year wait likely in NSW.

Women and children make up three in four Australians seeking homelessness support and 80 per cent of those turned away due to a lack of capacity, the Homelessness Australia report finds.