Housing affordability is a major concern for young people, especially those facing disadvantage. For example: In June 2016, the median rent for a two-bedroom unit in Melbourne’s inner suburbs was higher than the entire combined Youth Allowance of two young people. Even in Melbourne’s more affordable outer suburbs, the median rent on a two-bedroom unit would have consumed 73% of two Youth Allowance payments. The median rent on a unit in regional Victoria was more affordable (consuming ‘only’ 55% of two Youth Allowance payments), but would be offset by higher travel costs and limited local access to education, training and services. In Building the Scaffolding, a 2013 survey of 213 Victorian youth service providers, YACVic and the Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) found that crisis accommodation and transitional housing were by the far the most common areas of unmet need cited by Victoria’s youth services. Between 1994-95 and 2013-14, the rates of home ownership amongst Australians aged under 35 fell from 48% to 34%. The metropolitan local government areas with the lowest median costs for mortgages and rent are mostly located in the ‘growth’ or ‘outer’ suburbs of Melbourne, where infrastructure and job opportunities are relatively scarce. As these communities also tend to have higher than average birth rates, they will be expected to meet the needs of large cohorts of young people in the future. Several cohorts of young people face particular barriers to accessing adequate housing. For example, young people with disabilities are at high risk of being dependent on their families or living in group homes, as they face combined barriers of accessibility and affordability. While the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will increase the support available to live independently, the affordable, accessible housing stock does not always exist. Wiesel et al (2015) estimated that the NDIS will create unmet need for affordable, accessible housing for 83,000-122,000 Australians. We have some concerns about the definition of affordable housing adopted by Infrastructure Victoria in the draft 30-year plan:
Housing affordability is a major concern for young people, especially those facing disadvantage. For example: In June 2016, the median rent for a two-bedroom unit in Melbourne’s inner suburbs was higher than the entire combined Youth Allowance of two young people. Even in Melbourne’s more affordable outer suburbs, the median rent on a two-bedroom unit would have consumed 73% of two Youth Allowance payments. The median rent on a unit in regional Victoria was more affordable (consuming ‘only’ 55% of two Youth Allowance payments), but would be offset by higher travel costs and limited local access to education, training and services. In Building the Scaffolding, a 2013 survey of 213 Victorian youth service providers, YACVic and the Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) found that crisis accommodation and transitional housing were by the far the most common areas of unmet need cited by Victoria’s youth services. Between 1994-95 and 2013-14, the rates of home ownership amongst Australians aged under 35 fell from 48% to 34%. The metropolitan local government areas with the lowest median costs for mortgages and rent are mostly located in the ‘growth’ or ‘outer’ suburbs of Melbourne, where infrastructure and job opportunities are relatively scarce. As these communities also tend to have higher than average birth rates, they will be expected to meet the needs of large cohorts of young people in the future. Several cohorts of young people face particular barriers to accessing adequate housing. For example, young people with disabilities are at high risk of being dependent on their families or living in group homes, as they face combined barriers of accessibility and affordability. While the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will increase the support available to live independently, the affordable, accessible housing stock does not always exist. Wiesel et al (2015) estimated that the NDIS will create unmet need for affordable, accessible housing for 83,000-122,000 Australians. We have some concerns about the definition of affordable housing adopted by Infrastructure Victoria in the draft 30-year plan:
SUB_YACVic_submisssion_to_Infrastructure_Victoria_Oct_2016.docx