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.

This report addresses the serious and growing problem of building defects in the trillion dollar multi-unit housing sector. The findings are intended to inform changes to planning and development policy and regulation, leading to improved building quality and safety, lower costs and stress for owners, more resilient urban communities, and better urban planning outcomes.

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.

The Australian Homelessness Monitor examines the changes in the scale and nature of homelessness in Australia, as well as how social, economic and policy drivers influence these changes. Recent research shows that the national homelessness rate is set to surge, as short-term coronavirus and housing protections phase down.

Weak tie relationships are particularly important in a local high density environment because they provide low-level social and practical support while maintaining privacy. The research provides insights into how people use high density spaces socially, and which kinds of spaces are likely to facilitate the maintenance of weak ties.