Massive increase in homelessness means it’s time to act

 Today’s release of the statistics on Homelessness from the ABS 2016 census data, shows that homelessness and other consequences of the lack of housing affordability are rising unacceptably in NSW, according to NSW Greens spokesperson on Housing and Homelessness and Member for Newtown, Jenny Leong MP.


“Between 2011 and 2016 there’s been a massive 37% increase in homelessness in NSW which is more than double that of the national increase, with the shocking figure of a 92% increase in the rate of homelessness experienced by youth aged between 19 and 24 years” she said.


“This increase reflects the serious lack of public, social and affordable housing in this state and the Liberal National government’s apathy when it comes to taking any action to get roofs over everyone’s heads.

“Western Australia, Northern Territory and the ACT have all seen significant reductions in homelessness with Victoria and South Australia showing only small increases - this is because other states are actually doing something about supply of public and social housing and housing affordability, unlike NSW.
“Allied to the homelessness figures, there’s been an astronomic 74% rise in the numbers of people living in ‘severely’ overcrowded dwellings in NSW which shows that the housing and rental stress in this state is at breaking point.
“We need urgent action from the Berejiklian Government now as these figures show that we’re facing an unprecedented growth in inequality in this state.
“The Greens are committed to a Housing First approach which has been shown to have immediate impacts wherever it’s been implemented.
“As a community, we cannot sit by and do nothing while a shockingly high number of people no longer have a roof over their heads.
“Housing is a human right not a privilege,” she said.
BACKGROUND

·         See full ABS document - Census of Population and Housing: Estimating homelessness, 2016 <http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/2049.0>

     14 March 2018