Procuring Social and Affordable Housing: Changing Demographics and Typologies Research Report

Abstract

The changes occurring in the demographics of those needing access to social and affordable housing in Australia, and the associated impact on housing typologies, is the focus of this report. The aim of the report is to inform approaches to the provision of such housing over the next 20 years. This research is one element of the Sustainable Built Environment National Research Centre’s (SBEnrc) Procuring Social and Affordable Housing project. This project has also investigated current and emerging social procurement approaches and funding and financing models, in order to develop a set of social procurement criteria to inform policy and delivery decision-making. This report addresses current and emerging responses to the present situation in which social housing waiting lists are excessive and unlikely to be fully addressed in the foreseeable future. Home ownership and private rental is now unaffordable to many of those on low and medium incomes in a range of locations across Australia, placing additional pressure on social housing waiting lists. It is also now evident that housing stock (especially in social housing) no longer aligns with the demographic profiles of those needing and/or wanting housing. And there is also growing community demand for appropriate, resilient and resource-efficient housing, and community connectedness.