This study’s primary aim is to generate new insights into the situation of people seeking social housing (‘waitees’), the stress that results, and the coping strategies employed by social housing applicants in negotiating affordable shelter while awaiting a tenancy offer.

In analysing the administrative framework governing access to social housing from a more managerial perspective, this working paper draws on national statistics published by the AIHW and the Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services (ROGS). It also analyses figures published by the three states that are the particular focus of the study: NSW, Queensland and Tasmania. While the working paper is primarily intended to inform other components of the research, it may also be of interest to social housing researchers, advocates and other stakeholders.

Key points:

• In 2020-21 just under 30,000 applicants were granted a social housing tenancy, Australia-wide, compared with 52,000 in 1991 – a 42% reduction. Proportionate to population, the latest figure is 61% down over the period.
• The three years to 2021 saw overall social housing waiting list numbers rising by 16%, Australia-wide, to 164,000 households – largely reflecting more substantial increases in Queensland, Victoria, ACT and NT. Nationally, the annual number of ‘new greatest need applications’ grew by 48% during this timeframe.
• Social housing waiting lists now see high rates of ‘churn’, with the large cohort of applicants newly registering each year paralleled by substantial numbers exiting lists without being allocated a social housing tenancy. Unpublished statistics for NSW suggest that in 2020-21, over 6,000 registrations were cancelled or otherwise ended during the year, in addition to the 12,000 ended via a social housing tenancy allocation.