Overview

Assistance provided by governments and community organisations is available to eligible Australians who may have difficulties securing stable and affordable housing—this support is collectively referred to as housing assistance.

More reports and statistics on housing assistance can be found under Homelessness services. The AIHW’s Housing data dashboard also contains the latest housing and homelessness data from over 20 national data sets, brought together in one place.

Latest findings

Tenants gain multiple benefits from living in social housing, including feeling more settled and managing rent better 3 in 4 public housing tenants and 4 in 5 community housing tenants were satisfied with their housing services 3 in 4 social housing tenants Australia-wide were satisfied with services provided by their housing organisation The number of community housing dwellings more than doubled over the decade to 2017–18 Satisfaction rose significantly for public housing tenants in the Northern Territory—from 72% in 2014 to 79% in 2018 Social housing tenants in Queensland had the highest satisfaction rate in 2018 (85%) In 2017–18, there were 436,200 social housing dwellings, most were public housing Nearly 4 in 10 social housing tenants say their home is not comfortable in the heat or cold Satisfaction is closely related to the condition of tenants’ homes: as structural problems rise, satisfaction falls 2 in 3 tenants living in state owned and managed Indigenous housing were satisfied with their housing services

Featured reports

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Highlights

1 in 3 over 55In 2017–18, 1 in 3 public housing tenants were adults over 55 years
Tenant satisfactionfor those living in social housing is closely coupled to the condition of their home and its facilities
Almost 6 in 10 femaleIn 2017–18, almost 6 in 10 social housing tenants were female
Over 800,000 Australians In 2017–18, over 800,000 Australians were in social housing
Over halfof those living in Queensland Indigenous community housing in 2018 were children or young adults
Community housingThe number of community housing dwellings more than doubled over the decade to 2017–18
436,200In 2017–18, there were 436,200 social housing dwellings, most were public housing
140,600 on the waiting listThere were 140,600 applicants on the waiting list for public housing at 30 June 2018