To date, local governments in Australia have not played a major part in addressing homelessness. However, the recent decisions of the Council of Australian Government (COAG) have committed all tiers of government, including local councils, to reducing homelessness. It is important, therefore, to understand what actions local governments currently undertake in addressing homelessness, how other...

This bulletin argues that a more responsive social housing system requires improved access to and greater choice of housing allocations, with improved mobility within the system. Key findings:

Governments across Australia are increasingly turning to not-for-profit housing providers to help address shortages in housing that is affordable to low and moderate income households. However, an important question is whether, in the quest to provide affordability, these new developments sacrifice social, financial or environmental sustainability.

An intercultural approach to the provision of social housing for indigenous people living in urban areas would maximise opportunities to strengthen partnerships and work with indigenous organisations. This approach has the potential to deliver more diverse housing choices and adapt services to local cultural norms.

This report analyses a range of housing data and to provide an up-to-date commentary on both Indigenous and social housing specific to the Goldfields-Esperance region in Western Australia.