A new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) reveals that more than a million Australian households are experiencing critical housing stress.

According to the annual report, which assessed Australia’s progress in areas such as life satisfaction, employment, and education, around 1.3 million low-income households spent more than 30 per cent of their disposable income on housing in 2024–25.

Although the number of social housing dwellings increased by 45,200 between June 2006 and June 2024, they still accounted for only 4.1 per cent of all households in 2024, down from 4.8 per cent in 2011.

Specialist homelessness services assisted approximately 280,000 people in 2023–24 who were homeless or at risk of homelessness, with nearly half (45 per cent) of children and young people aged 15 to 24 still experiencing homelessness when their support ended.

Home ownership rates are declining, particularly among younger Australians. Between 2014 and 2024, the median transfer price for established houses in capital cities rose significantly, while ownership among people aged 25 to 29 fell from 50 per cent to 36 per cent, and among those aged 30 to 34 from 64 per cent to 50 per cent between 1971 and 2021.

AIHW spokesperson Louise Gates emphasized that the housing system is struggling to meet the needs of many Australians, particularly young people.