Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031 Outcomes Framework: First annual report

Living in housing that is affordable, safe and with long-term security is important to provide a sense of home and to be able to participate in the community (Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031).

Average social housing wait time

People living with disability often struggle to find affordable housing, and are vulnerable to housing or rental stress (AIHW 2022). They may also struggle to find accommodation that is appropriate to their needs. Social housing is a form of housing assistance in Australia that aims to assist in these circumstances.

Social housing programs are rental housing owned or managed by the government –public housing, and state owned and managed Indigenous housing (SOMIH) – or a community organisation (community housing, or Indigenous community housing) (AIHW 2020).

In the context of social housing, households that include people with disability are considered as special needs households. Such a household may also be regarded as being in greatest need if it is experiencing or is at risk of homelessness. Being at risk of homelessness means the existing accommodation poses a threat to life or safety, exacerbates a health condition, is inappropriate to needs, or has very high rental costs. Households in greatest need are prioritised by social housing programs (AIHW 2020).

This measure is intended to track the average time waited for social housing for people with disability. This is not currently feasible as waiting list data are currently available only for public housing and SOMIH. They are not available for community housing and Indigenous community housing. The measure is reported here as:

• average time waited for newly allocated households with a member with disability in public housing or SOMIH.

The desired key system outcome for this measure is that social housing supports people with disability to live in secure housing.

Results at baseline: 2020–21

Public housing

• In 2020–21 (baseline year), the average time waited for public housing by newly allocated households (with a member with disability) was 413 days – 167 fewer days than in 2011–12 (580 days) (Figure 3.1).
• The trend for the period 2011–12 to 2020–21 was favourable; overall, the trend was downward, although with some fluctuation. Fitting a regression model to the data showed a modelled decrease of 18.7 days per year and a modelled decrease of 26% over the reference period.

SOMIH

• In 2020–21 (baseline year), the average time waited for SOMIH by newly allocated households (with a member with disability) was 389 days – 98 fewer days than in 2011–12 (487 days).
• There was no clear trend for the period 2011–12 to 2020–21, with the average time waited fluctuating over the reference period. It reached its highest point (542) in 2013–14, and its lowest (255) in 2016–17, before rising to 389 days in 2020–21 (baseline).

Latest results

Updated data are not yet available for this measure. New data from the 2021–22 NHADR are expected to be available in 2023 and will be included in the 2023 annual report.

Things to consider when interpreting results

• The number of newly allocated households (with a member with disability) in public housing also dropped between 2011–12 and 2020–21, from 8,653 to 5,294 households. Fitting a regression model to the data showed a modelled decrease of 381 households per year, and a modelled decrease of 39% over the reference period.
• The number of newly allocated households (with a member with disability) in SOMIH was lower in 2020–21 (128) than in 2011–12 (181). Fitting a regression model to the data showed a modelled decrease of 8 households per year, and a modelled decrease of 36% over the reference period.
• Waiting times are also influenced by the size of the dwelling required, as well as by the amenities or modifications needed to accommodate a person’s disability.

For the latest data and breakdowns of the data, see Australia’s Disability Strategy Outcomes Framework | Average social housing wait time.

Lower income housing stress

One way of examining housing affordability is to look at households whose spending on housing is likely to affect their ability to afford other living costs – such as food, clothing, transport and utilities. A common threshold applied is the proportion of households spending more than 30% of their income on housing costs. Those households whose equivalised disposable household income falls in the bottom 40% of Australia’s income distribution, excluding the bottom 2%, are referred to as lower income households (ABS 2022). Lower income households that spend more than 30% of gross household income on housing costs are considered to be in financial housing stress (AIHW 2021).

The desired population outcome of this measure is to see a reduction in people with disability in housing stress.

Population measure: Proportion of households with at least one person with disability in lowest 40% income whose housing costs exceed 30% of household income

Desired outcome: Decrease in the proportion

Data source: ABS Survey of Income and Housing (SIH)

Pre-baseline results: 2017–18

• In 2017–18, 20% of households with at least one person with disability in the lowest 40% income distribution had housing costs that exceeded 30% of household income.
• There was no real difference between the proportions of households experiencing housing cost stress across the 3 time periods for which data are reported: 2013–14 (21%), 2015–16 (22%) and 2017–18 (20%) (Figure 3.2).

Results at baseline

Baseline data are not yet available for this measure. New data from the 2019–20 ABS SIH will be included in the 2023 annual report.

Things to consider when interpreting results

• Households are defined as households with disability if they include at least one member aged 15 and over with disability. These data do not include households with one or more members with disability aged 14 and under.

For the latest data and breakdowns of the data, see Australia’s Disability Strategy Outcomes Framework | Lower income housing stress.