Indigenous housing inquiry finds fragmented system as families face ongoing homelessness

A major national housing inquiry has warned Australia’s Indigenous housing system is complex, poorly coordinated and failing to meet demand, as families continue to cycle through crisis accommodation, overcrowding and insecure rentals.

In Perth, Noongar and Yamatji mother Loma Bropho says she has spent two years trying to secure a stable home for her six children, at times sleeping in a car or relying on relatives. “It’s a horrible feeling” she said, describing the strain of trying to keep her children safe while uncertainty drags on.

The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) has released new findings as part of an Inquiry into Indigenous housing, arguing that a long-term national strategy is needed to align policy, funding and accountability across governments. The research highlights how responsibilities are spread across multiple agencies, while Indigenous Community-Controlled Housing Organisations (ICCHOs) remain under-supported in many jurisdictions.

AHURI Inquiry lead Associate Professor Megan Moskos said unmet housing need remains stark: “Around 45,700 low-income Indigenous households had unmet housing needs in 2021 –that’s one in every eight, and almost double the rate for all Australians” she said.

Researchers and community-controlled housing leaders say the numbers reflect more than a housing shortage – they point to structural barriers that keep First Nations people locked out of stable rentals and quality housing. Alongside rental stress, advocates warn discrimination and limited social housing supply continue to drive churn for families already under pressure.

University of Sydney Research Associate Richard Benedict said the inquiry found a persistent accountability gap at the centre of the system. “We uncovered a system where responsibility is spread across at least seven national agencies, yet no single minister or body is ultimately accountable” he said.

Experts argue the solution requires more than short-term programs: a coherent national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander housing strategy, long-term investment commitments and practical mechanisms to grow Indigenous community-controlled ownership and management. Without that, families like Bropho’s remain at the sharp end of a system that, despite repeated commitments, continues to leave too many people without secure homes.