Two years after the outbreak of COVID-19, this report analyses pandemic impacts on housing systems across a range of high income countries during this period, and documents a range of policy responses relating to housing and homelessness.

This report shows renters on low and modest incomes are in the grip of a housing pincer, especially in regional Australia, as surging rents and the Commonwealth’s neglect of social and affordable housing creates acute stress.

By any measure, the housing market is a major sector within the Australian economy. This report finds that across the whole of government, and different orders of government, there needs to be an integrated housing market strategy to deliver more Australian homes and more sustainable house price appreciation.

Gains made on reducing homelessness during the pandemic last year are slipping away. Less than a third of those assisted with temporary hotel accommodation during the crisis were later transitioned into longer-term affordable housing, mainly due to a shortage of social housing available, according to this research.

This report analyses the expert opinions of leading economists and other senior housing market specialists on interrelationships between the housing system, economic performance, and wealth distribution in Australia.