Faith Housing Alliance is not a housing provider or a direct support service. If you are seeking emergency accommodation, visit Link2Home.

Affordable housing

Affordable housing, Faith Housing Alliance

Declining housing affordability is driving homelessness

For too many Australians, affordable housing is not within reach. As rental costs increase and home ownership becomes impossible for many, thousands of people find themselves in unstable and unaffordable accommodation. Homelessness often follows with people living in overcrowded dwellings, makeshift accommodation or rough sleeping.                                                                           

When housing costs become overwhelming, it affects every aspect of life. Other expenses like food, clothing and healthcare become unmanageable and people can spiral into debilitating poverty – a consequence of which is likely to be homelessness.

70k

Daily requests for help

Every day, an average of 70,000 Australians seek help from Specialist Homelessness Services and many more struggle silently, never seeking assistance at all.

1/6

Homeless under 10 years old

One in six people who seek help with homelessness are under the age of ten and one in three have experienced family and domestic violence.

3x

More likely to have mental health issues

People accessing homelessness services are more than three times as likely to have a mental health issue, as to have a drug or alcohol issue.

55+

Age bracket on the rise

The number of homeless persons aged 55 years and above has steadily increased over the past 20 years.

Many people who seek help don’t have their needs met as specialist homelessness services are overstretched and affordable housing supply is not available.

Sadly, evidence shows that too many families to return to unsafe domestic violence situations because they have nowhere else to go. There is insufficient emergency and/or transition housing available.

To meet the rapidly growing and increasingly visible need for affordable rental housing, we believe faith communities are an important part of the solution. Faith Housing Alliance is a peak body working with faith-based organisations who provide safe, healthy, and secure affordable community housing.

What is affordable housing?

Affordable rental housing is housing that is priced at a manageable level for individuals or families who are on low or moderate incomes.

Generally, housing should cost no more than 30% of the household income.

Affordable housing keeps rental costs low enough that individuals and families can meet their financial obligations and maintain housing security and wellbeing.

Affordable rental housing may be owned by private developers or investors, local governments, charitable organisations, or community housing providers, like many of the members of Faith Housing Alliance.

Affordable Housing offers economic benefits as well as delivering social justice. Studies have shown affordable housing increases adjacent property values, attracts businesses and jobs, uplifts residents, encourages social connection, reduces overcrowding, and lowers crime rates.

Jordan Springs apartments, Penrith, built by member Amelie Housing, St Vincent de Paul Society.

What is affordable housing?

Affordable rental housing is housing that is priced at a manageable level for individuals or families who are on low or moderate incomes.

Generally, housing should cost no more than 30% of the household income.

Affordable housing keeps rental costs low enough that individuals and families can meet their financial obligations and maintain housing security and wellbeing.

Affordable rental housing may be owned by private developers or investors, local governments, charitable organisations, or community housing providers, like many of the members of Faith Housing Alliance.

Affordable Housing offers economic benefits as well as delivering social justice. Studies have shown affordable housing increases adjacent property values, attracts businesses and jobs, uplifts residents, encourages social connection, reduces overcrowding, and lowers crime rates.

Jordan Springs apartments, Penrith, built by member Amelie Housing, St Vincent de Paul Society.

Our Response

Faith Housing Alliance believes in the dignity and worth of every person and we are committed to building a more just society in which people can thrive.

We want to see every person living in safe, healthy, secure and affordable accommodation which supports them to flourish and contribute to their community.

Communities of faith have always been at the forefront of responding to the needs of their communities, serving those who are facing crisis, are disadvantaged and in need of support. Faith Housing Alliance is an expression of the social justice commitment of the faith sector, which believes in appropriate and affordable housing for all as a basic human right and wish to help build strong communities. 

Affordable housing, Faith Housing Alliance

"Our members have delivered thousands of homes, offering social and affordable housing in all its forms, including crisis and emergency accommodation, specialist disability housing, transition housing and affordable aged care."

Increase and improve the supply of housing for all.

Do you share our vision?

The Faith Housing Alliance is working to increase the supply of safe, healthy and secure affordable housing for all.

Working with our members to build capacity and a shared understanding of how faith-informed solutions can help solve community housing needs.

Engaging stakeholders to demonstrate how the faith sector plays a valuable role in the supply of community housing and services that strengthen individuals, families and communities.

Working collaboratively across sectors to build partnerships that will increase and improve housing supply.

Continually learning, researching and developing ideas to support innovations and thought leadership in community housing supply and practice.

Working with our members to build capacity and a shared understanding of how faith-informed solutions can help solve community housing needs.

Engaging stakeholders to demonstrate how the faith sector plays a valuable role in the supply of community housing and services that strengthen individuals, families and communities.

Working collaboratively across sectors to build partnerships that will increase and improve housing supply.

Continually learning, researching and developing ideas to support innovations and thought leadership in community housing supply and practice.

Working with our members to build capacity and a shared understanding of how faith-informed solutions can help solve community housing needs.

Engaging stakeholders to demonstrate how the faith sector plays a valuable role in the supply of community housing and services that strengthen individuals, families and communities.

Working collaboratively across sectors to build partnerships that will increase and improve housing supply.

Continually learning, researching and developing ideas to support innovations and thought leadership in community housing supply and practice.

Be part of the solution

Join Faith Housing Alliance

Faith Housing Alliance is not a housing provider or a direct support service.

If you are seeking emergency accommodation, visit Link2Home.