Housing and Homelessness

The Australian Catholic Bishops’ Social Justice Statement of 2018–19 titled A Place to Call Home: Making a home for everyone in our land confronts the growing challenge of homelessness and housing insecurity in Australia.

The latest Census figures show that more than 122,494 Australians are homeless, with over 27%, or 30,660, in Victoria. This is unacceptable for a rich and well-resourced nation like ours. Yet these people are only the tip of the iceberg: welfare agencies report growing numbers of families and individuals struggling to meet the cost of mortgages or rents and turning to specialist housing services, which are often unable to meet demand.

The Scriptural basis of the Statement is Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30–35), about an outsider who does something that rich and influential men refuse to do: he stops to help a man in desperate need, takes him to safety and pays for his care.

The Statement also draws on the example of Pope Francis, who has reached out to men and women on the streets of Rome and reminded us forcefully of the rights of people experiencing homelessness around the world.

The Bishops consider the extent of our housing crisis and Australia’s falling rates of home ownership. They focus especially on those in our society who are most vulnerable to housing insecurity and homelessness.

Homelessness is a challenge for all levels of society: for government, for Church and community, and for us as individuals. Each one of us can make a difference and, when we join with others, we can be a real force for change that ensures everyone has a place to call home.

Housing and Homelessness Campaigns CSSV Supports

Everybody’s Home aims to fix Australia’s housing crisis. It advocates for policies that rebalance the housing system so that all Australians can afford a safe and acceptable home. It supports the construction of more social and affordable housing developments across Australia. 

Home Time is a national campaign that advocates for a better housing system for young people with no access to secure affordable housing. CSSV supports Home Time and their campaign to create housing options for over 40,000 homeless youth. 

CSSV Discussion Paper – Houses as Homes: Immediate Responses to the Housing Crisis

Catholic Social Services Victoria wrote Houses as Homes: Immediate Responses to the Housing Crisis in response to the unprecedented ongoing national conversation on housing affordability and policy. Although much of the debate centres around increasing the housing supply over the next few years, there has been little discussion about addressing housing stress and insecurity here and now. It is important to consider policies that can immediately address the housing crisis and the high levels of homelessness, especially in rural and regional Victoria. CSSV believes that addressing supply, while an important step, is only part of the solution. The government must also take policy measures that treat houses as places for people to live instead of vehicles of investment and wealth transfer.