The Risk of Homelessness is Increasing, from Justice Connect

Stopping homelessness before it starts

Excerpts from campaigns from Justice Connect.
See their campaign page here.

The risk of homelessness is increasing. We need to prioritise more safe and secure homes.

Without enough affordable and safe housing, many people are at risk of homelessness, or unable to exit homelesness in Australia. All it takes is for one thing to go wrong – the kids getting sick, or the car breaking down – for many in our community to fall behind in rent and to end up on the brink of homelessness.

Despite significant progress in some state-based rental laws and policies, the residential tenancies system still leaves vulnerable Australians at risk of eviction into homelessness. Legal issues take a heavy toll on Australians who are facing housing insecurity, exacerbating housing and financial stress, isolation, health problems, unemployment and justice system interactions. Legal issues cause and compound homelessness, often making it impossible for people to move into stable housing. At the same time, there is an ongoing shortage of social and affordable housing, leaving many people in chronic rental stress in the private market.