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Housing and homelessness
Sector overview
Housing
Homelessness services

Report on Government Services 2016

Chapter 17, Volume G

Housing

The Housing chapter (chapter 17) focuses on the performance of governments in providing social housing, including public housing, State owned and managed Indigenous housing (SOMIH), community housing and Indigenous community housing.

The National Affordable Housing Agreement (NAHA) is the overarching agreement between Australian, State and Territory governments for providing assistance to improve housing outcomes for Australian people.

Please note: An errata was released with this chapter. The files below have been updated to reflect the changes.

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  • Key Facts
  • Indicator Framework
  • Indicator Results
  • Indigenous Data

Nationally at 30 June 2015:

  • Public housing — there were 314 963 households and 321 627 dwellings (with another 5025 remote dwellings located in the NT)
  • SOMIH — there were 9732 households and 10 035 dwellings
  • Community housing — there were 69 171 households and 72 105 community housing tenancy rental units.

There were 12 775 households and 17 529 permanent dwellings managed by Indigenous community housing organisations at 30 June 2014.

Social housing aims to assist people unable to access alternative suitable housing options through the delivery of affordable, appropriate, flexible and diverse social housing.

Some forms of social housing aim specifically to contribute to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community wellbeing by improving housing outcomes, especially for people living in remote communities.

The performance indicator framework provides information on equity, efficiency and effectiveness, and distinguishes the outputs and outcomes of social housing. The performance indicator framework shows which data are complete and comparable in the 2016 Report.

Indicator Framework

An overview of the Social housing performance indicator results are presented. Information to assist the interpretation of these data can be found in the indicator interpretation boxes in the Housing chapter and attachment tables.

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Equity — Access indicators

Priority access to those in greatest need

Proportion of new allocations of housing to those in greatest need, 2014-15 (%)

Public housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17).
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 48.0 82.1 95.9 74.9 82.4 80.5 96.7 61.6 73.7
Source: Attachment tables 17A.9-11
State owned and managed Indigenous housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17).
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 12.9 .. 96.5 .. 91.1 na .. .. 51.8
Source: Attachment tables 17A.9-11
Community housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17).
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 72.5 84.9 85.9 79.4 83.1 51.7 97.9 na 73.4
Source: Attachment tables 17A.9-11

Special needs

Proportion of allocations of housing to those with special needs, 2014-15 (%).

Public housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 68.0 57.7 67.2 54.1 67.2 60.6 66.5 69.8 63.7
Source: Attachment tables 17A.12-14
State owned and managed Indigenous housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 55.6 .. 51.9 .. 5.0 63.0 .. .. 53.8
Source: Attachment tables 17A12-14
Community housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 57.7 46.7 62.6 49.4 60.5 67.5 61.5 na 55.5
Source: Attachment tables 17A.12-14

Equity — Effectiveness indicators

Dwelling condition

Proportion of households with at least four working facilities and not more than two major structural problems, 2014 (%)

Public housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 75.9±1.3 83.1±3.2 88.3±2.8 81.9±2.9 84.0±3.0 80.6±3.6 75.7±3.8 81.7±3.6 81.0±1.0
Source: Attachment tables 17A.15-17
State owned and managed Indigenous housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 65.5±4.2 .. 80.3±3.5 .. 61.4±5.7 75.6±9.1 .. .. 70.1±2.5
Source: Attachment tables 17A.15-17
Community housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 87.9 ±2.1 87.7 ±3.5 93.8 ±2.5 94.4 ±2.5 86.4 ±3.7 80.5 ±4.7 87.6 ±5.9 na 89.3 ±1.2
Source: Attachment tables 17A.15-17

Efficiency indicators

Net recurrent cost per dwelling

Net recurrent cost per dwelling, 2014-15 (CH and ICH = 2013-14) ($)

Public housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
$ 8133 7055 7880 11 061 9284 8379 9630 14 741 8486
Source: Attachment tables 17A.19-23
State owned and managed Indigenous housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
$ 9186 .. 13 102 .. 12 288 7766 .. .. 10 999
Source: Attachment tables 17A.19-23
Community housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
$ 10 380 8788 7261 10 046 9600 na 6638 na 9264
Source: Attachment tables 17A.19-23
Indigenous community housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
$ 4052 7792 9544 10 353 na 3792 .. na 8615
Source: Attachment tables 17A.19-23

Occupancy rates

Occupancy rates, 2015 (ICH = 2014) (%).

Public housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 98.7 98.0 98.3 97.7 95.8 98.3 98.0 94.7 97.9
Source: Attachment tables 17A.24-27
State owned and managed Indigenous housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 97.6 .. 96.6 .. 95.8 98.6 .. .. 97.0
Source: Attachment tables 17A.24-27
Community housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 93.0 94.0 97.0 95.0 96.0 96.0 87.0 100.0 94.4
Source: Attachment tables 17A.24-27
Indigenous community housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 96.7 98.5 94.1 91.3 88.7 100.0 .. na 94.6
Source: Attachment tables 17A.24-27

Turnaround time

Average turnaround times for vacant stock, 2014-15 (days)

Public housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
Days 29.9 29.1 24.3 21.5 na 26.9 34.1 93.1 na
Source: Attachment tables 17A.28-29
State owned and managed Indigenous housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
Days 28.0 .. 38.5 .. na 27.2 .. .. na
Source: Attachment tables 17A.28-29

Rent collection rate

Rent collection rate, 2014-15 (CH and ICH = 2013-14) (%)

Public housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 99.5 98.8 100.2 100.0 99.8 98.5 99.3 98.5 99.5
Source: Attachment tables 17A.30-33
State owned and managed Indigenous housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 94.0 .. 100.3 .. 97.4 98.4 .. .. 96.3
Source: Attachment tables 17A.30-33
Community housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 97.7 100.4 99.9 99.9 99.6 109.0 98.7 na 99.2
Source: Attachment tables 17A.30-33
Indigenous community housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 92.5 100.1 82.1 89.7 na 99.5 .. na 89.9
Source: Attachment tables 17A.30-33

Outcome indicators

Amenity/location

Amenity important and meeting needs, 2014 (%)

Public housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 80.8 81.8 87.1 85.7 86.7 85.2 80.5 82.2 83.4
Source: Attachment tables 17A.34-39
State owned and managed Indigenous housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 75.9 .. 82.9 .. 79.8 82.0 .. .. 79.0
Source: Attachment tables 17A.34-39
Community housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 84.2 86.0 86.1 88.4 88.2 82.5 81.1 na 85.5
Source: Attachment tables 17A.34-39

Location important and meeting needs, 2014 (%)

Public housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 88.9 87.3 90.1 89.7 89.2 88.8 90.0 87.9 88.9
Source: Attachment tables 17A.34-39
State owned and managed Indigenous housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 89.4 .. 89.3 .. 89.4 93.8 .. .. 89.5
Source: Attachment tables 17A.34-39
Community housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 86.0 89.1 85.4 88.8 91.0 88.3 83.8 na 87.1
Source: Attachment tables 17A.34-39

Affordability

Proportion of low income households spending more than 30 per cent of their gross income on rent, 2014-15 (%)

Public housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 1.5 0.4 – 1.5 – 0.1 0.1 7.7 0.9
Source: Attachment table 17A.43
State owned and managed Indigenous housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 0.8 .. – .. – – .. .. 0.3
Source: Attachment table 17A.43
Community housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 7.6 0.1 na 17.7 9.0 27.8 0.4 na 8.7
Source: Attachment table 17A.43

Match of dwelling to household size

Proportion of overcrowded households, 2014-15 (%) (ICH = 2013-14)

Public housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 4.6 4.5 4.5 6.3 1.9 3.7 5.0 7.3 4.4
Source: Attachment tables 17A.48-51
State owned and managed Indigenous housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 8.4 .. 12.6 .. 7.7 4.8 .. .. 9.7
Source: Attachment tables 17A.48-51
Community housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 4.8 5.1 na 1.8 2.1 1.8 0.3 na 3.9
Source:Attachment tables 17A.48-51
Indigenous community housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% na 6.1 28.0 20.1 na na .. na na
Source: Attachment tables 17A.48-51

Customer satisfaction

Proportion of tenants who were satisfied or very satisfied with the services provided by their State or Territory housing authority or community housing organisation, 2014 (%)

Public housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 64.8 ±1.5 75.5 ±3.6 83.8 ±3.2 73.0 ±3.4 75.7 ±3.4 73.2 ±3.9 75.7 ±3.8 71.6 ±4.0 72.7 ±1.2
Source: Attachment tables 17A.55-57
State owned and managed Indigenous housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 49.1 ±4.4 .. 66.8 ±4.1 .. 66.2 ±5.5 62.2 ±10.5 .. .. 58.3 ±2.7
Source: Attachment tables 17A.55-57
Community housing
Data comparability and completeness vary for this indicator (chapter 17)
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 78.5 ±2.5 76.6 ±4.4 83.2 ±3.9 83.0 ±3.9 82.6 ±4.0 75.7 ±5.0 69.4 ±8.2 na 79.7 ±1.6
Source: Attachment tables 17A.55-57

Legend

.. Not applicable.

na Not available.

Source: Chapter 17 and attachment 17A

Some results reported here include 95 per cent confidence intervals (for example, 80 per cent ± 2.7 per cent).

Performance indicator data for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in this chapter are available in the attachment tables listed below. Contextual data and further supporting information can be found in the chapter.

Indigenous housing data
Table number Table title
Table 17A.10 Greatest need allocations as a proportion of all new allocations — SOMIH (per cent)
Table 17A.13 Proportion of new tenancies allocated to households with special needs — SOMIH (per cent)
Table 17A.15 Dwelling condition, public housing, 2014 (per cent)
Table 17A.16 Dwelling condition, SOMIH, 2014 (per cent)
Table 17A.17 Dwelling condition, community housing, 2014 (per cent)
Table 17A.18 Dwelling condition, Indigenous community housing, 2012-13 (per cent)
Table 17A.21 Net recurrent cost of providing assistance per dwelling (excluding the cost of capital) — SOMIH ($ per dwelling)
Table 17A.23 Net recurrent cost per dwelling — Indigenous community housing (2013-14 dollars)
Table 17A.25 SOMIH occupancy rates as at 30 June (per cent)
Table 17A.27 Indigenous community housing occupancy rates (per cent)
Table 17A.29 Average turnaround times for vacant stock — SOMIH (days)
Table 17A.31 SOMIH rent collection rate (per cent)
Table 17A.33 Indigenous community housing rent collection rate (per cent)
Table 17A.36 Proportion of SOMIH tenants rating amenity aspects as important and meeting their needs, 2014
Table 17A.37 Proportion of SOMIH tenants rating location aspects as important and meeting their needs, 2014 (per cent)
Table 17A.41 Average weekly subsidy per rebated household, at 30 June — SOMIH ($ per week)
Table 17A.42 Low income households in social housing, at 30 June
Table 17A.43 Proportion of low income households in social housing spending more than 30 per cent of their gross income on rent, at 30 June (per cent)
Table 17A.46 Proportion of household gross income spent on rent — low income households in SOMIH, at 30 June (per cent)
Table 17A.49 Proportion of overcrowded households at 30 June — SOMIH (per cent)
Table 17A.51 Proportion of overcrowded households in Indigenous community housing (per cent)
Table 17A.52 Proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households in public housing living in overcrowded conditions, by remoteness (per cent)
Table 17A.53 Proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households in SOMIH living in overcrowded conditions, by remoteness (per cent)
Table 17A.54 Underutilisation in social housing at 30 June (per cent)
Table 17A.56 Customer satisfaction — SOMIH, 2014 (per cent)