The National Social Housing Survey collects information about the nature of the public housing sector through a survey of tenants. This information can be used to identify the satisfaction of public housing tenants with the service provided, the benefits of living in public housing and information on tenant characteristics including tenant needs.

Incomes earned by those on the basic wage or just above have increased far less than house prices have increased, during the last 25 years, yet governments have largely withdrawn from providing housing for people encountering housing difficulties. Instead, writes John Wilkinson, they have turned to providing modest rent assistance to those on low incomes...

Sean McNelis argues that financial crises are endemic to Australian public housing and that public housing managers cannot trade-off affordability for financial viability. He concludes his analysis by proposing a solution to the current financial crisis.

Terry Burke challenges orthodox views of the relationship between the market and the state, between social housing provision and support, and between past housing needs and those of the future.

Mike Berry summarises the housing affordability picture and the forces driving the recent housing boom. He then addresses the policy challenge and looks at the way forward. He stresses that in order to make substantial advances in reducing housing stress related to declining affordability for at-risk groups, the states and Commonwealth must adequately and quickly...