Addressing the Indigenous Housing Crisis in Australia

Recent calls from Queensland’s First Nations leaders for federal housing funding underscore a critical issue facing Indigenous communities across Australia: chronic overcrowding and homelessness.

And the urgency of this crisis is highlighted by a meeting planned with Federal Ministers to advocate for funding similar to the $4 billion program established for the Northern Territory.

“Just today at the Indigenous Leaders Forum in Cairns, mayors listed housing as the top issue for their communities – whether it is shortages meaning chronic overcrowding, kids being forced to go ‘house hopping’ just to find somewhere to sleep, or soaring contractor prices.

“The housing crisis does not recognise the Northern Territory-Queensland border – we are desperately short of secure and available housing in our communities too.” – Palm Island Mayor Alf Lacey

The Scope of the Problem

Overcrowding remains a significant issue for Indigenous households. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) in 2021 only 81% of First Nations people lived in appropriately sized housing compared to 94% of non-Indigenous Australians, which is particularly dire in remote areas, where just 45% of Indigenous people live in adequately sized homes.

Homelessness Statistics

The 2021 Census revealed that 122,494 people were experiencing homelessness in Australia, with Indigenous Australians disproportionately affected. Indigenous people were more likely to be homeless compared to non-Indigenous Australians and this rate of homelessness is largely driven by severe overcrowding and a lack of secure, affordable housing​.

• Three in five (60.0%) were living in ‘severely’ crowded dwellings
• Almost one in five (19.1%) were in supported accommodation for the homeless
• Nearly one in ten (9.3%) were living in improvised dwellings, tents, or sleeping out. 

Housing Tenure and Ownership

Home ownership among First Nations households is significantly lower than the national average and in 2021, 42% of Indigenous households owned their homes, either outright or with a mortgage, compared to 68% of non-Indigenous households.

And although this represents an improvement from 37% in 2011, the gap remains substantial.

Furthermore, housing is a foundational element for addressing broader social disparities.

And Mayor Wayne Butcher of Lockhart River aptly stated that without adequate housing, closing the gap on other socio-economic challenges is impossible.

The National Agreement on Closing the Gap includes a target (#9) to increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in appropriately sized housing to 88% by 2031 but as of 2021, the proportion stood at 81.4%, falling short of interim targets​​.

Moving Forward: Indigenous Housing

The urgency of addressing housing issues for Indigenous Australians cannot be overstated.

And with First Nations leaders actively seeking federal support, there is hope that targeted funding and effective policies can begin to mitigate the housing crisis.

So ensuring secure, affordable and appropriately sized housing for Indigenous communities is not just a matter of equity but a necessary step towards achieving broader social and economic goals.

And by focusing on these critical areas, Australia can work towards a future where Indigenous people have access to the same standard of living and opportunities as their non-Indigenous counterparts.