There is a housing affordability crisis in Australia, yet there is no Commonwealth Government strategy to address the growing numbers of people experiencing housing stress and homelessness. Homeownership is on the decline, fewer households are achieving mortgage-free homes before retirement, the private rental market cannot provide affordable homes for people living on low incomes, and our social housing system is not meeting the needs of our citizens. Inadequate social security payment levels, unemployment, and a poorly targeted and insufficient Commonwealth Rent Assistance program leave more than one million Australians living with housing stress in the private rental market.

Around the world, housing affordability has emerged as a major contributor to increasing inequality. Nations that recognise this issue have developed national housing strategies to combat the problem. Twenty-five of thirty-six Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development nations have housing strategies targeting a range of objectives.