<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>327208</docID> <postdate>2024-08-21 08:54:50</postdate> <headline>Social homes only solution to housing crisis: report</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-327209" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20230919001843092950-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>A report recommends the federal government create 750,000 social homes within two decades. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Nyk Carnsew </strong>in Sydney</span></p> <p><strong>The Australian government must invest in social housing if it wants to solve the housing crisis, an advocacy group says.</strong></p> <p>More than 1500 Australians have given testimony as part of a report from Everybody's Home into the impacts of the crisis, including poor living standards and domestic violence.</p> <p>Two women said they were left homeless after fleeing an abusive relationship with their children.</p> <p>Another woman said her house was "crumbling" around her and that she had respiratory issues from the dust and mould.</p> <p>A representative from the Murra Mia Aboriginal Corporation said members of his community lived in poverty in dilapidated and overcrowded dwellings.</p> <p>More than 50 per cent of participants who rent have forgone medical appointments, and more than 40 per cent have skipped meals.</p> <p>To solve the crisis, the report recommends the government create 750,000 social homes within two decades, abolish investor tax concessions and deliver housing justice for Indigenous peoples.</p> <p>The report's commissioner and former Labor senator Doug Cameron urged Housing Minister Clare O'Neil and the Albanese government to take the findings seriously.</p> <p>"I applaud the fact that the new housing minister expresses enthusiasm to tackle the housing crisis," he said in a statement.</p> <p>"However, it's troubling that failed 'market solutions' continue to take precedence over increased funding for social housing."</p> <p>Other recommendations include investing in crisis housing services and raising the rate of working age payments and formally recognising housing as a human right.</p> <p>The report showed that Australians expected the government to step up on housing, Everybody's Home spokeswoman Maiy Azize said.</p> <p>"Too many Australians are living in tents, caravans, on couches or the streets because there simply aren't enough safe, decent, affordable homes for them," Ms Azize said.</p> <p>"Our leaders can't waste another moment to rapidly build more social housing, phase out investor tax breaks and co-ordinate strong national rental reform."</p> </body>