Link to AMP.NATSEM Report 29 - The Great Australian Dream - Just a Dream?
The report found median house prices grew 147 per cent to $417,000 while median after-tax incomes only increased 50 per cent to $57,000 from 2001 to 2011, pushing the price to income ratio from an affordable 4.7 to a severely unaffordable 7.3 today. In 2001, more than 50 per cent of all suburbs in Australia’s five major capital cities were affordable but today only four per cent are affordable and not one of these affordable suburbs is in inner city areas.
AMP Financial Services Managing Director Craig Meller said households that are in housing stress are devoting a large portion of their after-tax income to housing costs. "Buying a home and paying off the mortgage is putting Australians under considerable stress. It can be a struggle to get into the market and when people do, many have little funds left over for essentials, let alone a family holiday," Mr Meller said.
Somewhere along the way, we as a species have lost sight of the fact that housing is a human right and need.
Each day nearly 1 in every 200 Australians is homeless, without safe, secure or affordable housing. Last year, 105 000 Australians experienced homelessness. One in every 154 Australians sought help from a homeless assistance service and one in every 39 children aged under 4 slept in a homeless service. 23% of Australia’s homeless are children – almost one in four homeless people is under 18. Of every 42 Australian children under four, one has experienced homelessness. Every day, half the people who request immediate accommodation from the homeless service system are turned away. Two in every 3 children who need support are also turned away, as are almost 80% percent of families.
Link to Homelessness in Australia (General overview)
In contrast to common perceptions of homelessness, children are among Australia’s homeless population. In fact, children in homeless families are the largest single group who seek support from the homeless service system. Tonight, approximately 105,000 people will be homeless across the country. Among them are 7,483 families with children. Twelve per cent (or 12,133 people) are children under 12. Another 21 per cent (or 21,940 people) are children and young people aged 12 to 18, most of them homeless as well as estranged from their families.
Link to Homelessness and Children
Children who are homeless:
Have higher rates of asthma, recurrent ear infections, vision problems, eczema, and developmental delays.
Are often reliant on hospital emergency departments and outpatient clinics for health care.
Spend less time in school than other kids.
Are more likely to leave school altogether. Two thirds of young people who become homeless leave school within 12 months.
Often experience lower levels of safety and security.
Are more likely to become homeless later in life and raise families who, in turn, also become homeless.
The early years of life are a crucial period of development for children. Safe and stable living environments ensure children’s long-term well being, the fulfilment of their potential and strong, healthy communities. Children’s health and education are affected by homelessness. In addition children who have been homeless are more likely to have been victims of crime, and to have been involved in criminal activities. Many homeless children have experienced or witnessed domestic violence, have been victims of other crime, or have been involved in criminal activities themselves. Children who have been homeless are more likely than others to find themselves homeless as adults - homelessness can become a way of life.
Half of the people using homeless assistance services in Australia are families – parents and their children experiencing homelessness. Family homelessness is not visible or widely recognised in Australia; many people find it difficult to believe that there are homeless families in our communities. In fact, families with children are the fastest growing group of people experiencing homelessness in Australia. More than 16 per cent of Australia’s 105,000 homeless are homeless with other family members.
Link to Homelessness and Families
The two primary reasons for family homeless are domestic and family violence and the shortage of affordable housing and appropriate housing support in Australia.
Homelessness has a devastating impact on families, causing instability and insecurity.
Homeless families may lose their possessions and jobs. They may lose their relationships with friends and family, links to their community - their relationships with GPs, teachers, sporting clubs.
Most of the children in homeless assistance services are under 12 years old and therefore in a crucial period of their development.
The experience of homelessness and domestic violence has a serious impact on their health, education and wellbeing. These impacts include higher rates of anxiety, emotional and behavioural issues and mental illness.
Parents in homeless families can experience emotional and physical health issues, poor nutrition, isolation, and relationship difficulties. Homelessness affects parents’ ability to provide appropriate support to their children.
The longer homelessness lasts, the more difficult it is for families to regain their stability.
In a resource based economy , with equitable distribution to maintain the highest standard of living for all humans, this simply would not happen.
Stop the madness, put an end to monetary economics, and give humans what they need.
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