The index presents the key indicators of housing insecurity in Victoria alongside social housing availability. It tracks rent price data, the social housing waitlist, access to specialist homelessness services, housing affordability stress and social housing stock to provide an overview of Victoria’s housing affordability crisis. 

In this second edition of the index, additional metrics have been introduced to examine the relationship between family violence and homelessness, and to track Victoria’s annual per person expenditure on social housing and homelessness services.

The index shows Victoria’s housing crisis has worsened across almost every key measure. The data shows surging rents, a ballooning social housing waitlist and thousands of people forced into homelessness because of family violence and housing stress.

Key findings

• Family violence and housing affordability stress are among the key drivers of Victoria’s homelessness crisis.
• Family violence and homelessness are inextricably linked, and policy responses must tackle both to be effective.  
• Statewide annual expenditure on social housing and homelessness services per person, at $399.80, is below the national average.
• The social housing waiting list has grown by more than 7% year-on-year, while the total number of social housing dwellings has seen a marginal increase of just 2.5%. 

Recommendations

1. Increase investment in homelessness prevention and early intervention.
2. Set a social housing target and deliver a social housing building blitz.
3. Increase support for crisis homelessness services.