Cities represent the spatial reflection of wider social processes. Across the history of research into cities there has been widespread acceptance of the way in which a study of the residential spatial structure of urban areas reflects the broader structure of society.

This report provides a study of changes in Australians' housing aspirations and the implications of these for housing assistance. It illustrates the way in which the changing nature of Australian society is reflected in changing housing aspirations among different household groups and what these changes mean within the arena of housing policy.