Indigenous households are more likely to rent rather than own
their own homes, and many live in overcrowded conditions, according
to a report released today by the Australian Institute of Health
and Welfare (AIHW).
Indigenous Housing Indicators 2003-04 is the first
report in what will be an annual series used to monitor progress
under the Housing Ministers' 10 year commitment to improve
Indigenous housing-Building a Better Future: Indigenous Housing to
2010.
The report includes data on a range of factors including
overcrowding, dwelling condition, affordability and
homelessness.
It shows that in 2002 just over 30% of the estimated 165,700
Indigenous households in Australia were homeowners, and almost
two-thirds lived in some form of rental housing in 2003-04.
Twenty eight per cent rented from private landlords, 23% from
state or territory housing authorities and 15% rented from
Indigenous or mainstream community organizations.
For all Australian households, 70% were homeowners and 27% were
in some form of rental housing.
In 2004 there were 34,442 dwellings provided through the
Indigenous specific housing assistance programs-12, 725 State Owned
and Managed Indigenous Housing dwellings and 21,717 Indigenous
community housing dwellings. There were 551 Indigenous community
housing organisations in Australia responsible for managing these
Indigenous community housing dwellings.
The report also shows that over 1 in 20 Indigenous households
lived in overcrowded conditions compared with less than one per
cent of non-Indigenous households. The highest rate of overcrowding
for Indigenous households was among those renting from Indigenous
community organizations, where more than a quarter of households
lived in overcrowded conditions.
'Overcrowding can contribute to the spread of infectious
diseases and put stress on basic facilities', report author Dr
Fadwa Al-Yaman said.
The report highlights data on Indigenous households living in
dwellings with 'structural problems' which show that in 2002, 55%
of households renting from Indigenous community organisations lived
in dwellings with structural problems compared with 22% of home
owners.
Dr Al-Yaman said that the figures about the state of Indigenous
housing in Australia were very useful in providing a statistical
basis from which to monitor progress under Building a Better
Future.
24 June 2005
Further information: Dr Fadwa Al-yaman, AIHW,
tel. 02 6244 1146, or tel. 0407 915 851
OR: Ms Helen Johnstone, AIHW, tel. 6244 1259
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, tel. 02 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability of the Indigenous Housing
Indicators 2003-04.