Australia’s housing crunch is no longer just an economic issue. Research clearly shows people who face housing insecurity are more likely to experience mental ill-health.

For this reason, secure housing must sit at the heart of any mental health plan.

Rents rose so fast in 2024 that Australia’s Rental Affordability Index now labels all major cities and regional areas “critically unaffordable” for people relying on benefits such as JobSeeker or a pension.

Vacancy rates hover near 1%, the lowest in decades. Mortgage costs chew the biggest slice of income since the mid-1980s.

On Census night in 2021, 122,494 Australians were homeless. Of these, more than 7,600 people slept rough, and nearly one-quarter were aged 12–24.

Data from homelessness services and headcounts of rough sleepers since 2021 suggest today’s figure is higher.

Read more: Why is it so hard for everyone to have a house in Australia?

In a national survey, four in five renters said they spend more than 30% of their income on housing.

This 30% threshold is important. A 2025 study that followed more than 10,000 Australian renters found mental health drops fast once housing........

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