Where is the greatest need for social housing in Australia?

While 384,700 households across Australia were housed in social housing in 2016 (4.4% of all households), an even greater number were in need of it—estimated to be around 433,000 households (5% of all households).

Recent AHURI research developed a demographic model to assess the level and distribution of social housing need across Australia. The analysis took into account existing social housing provision, the current backlog of unaddressed need, as well as the needs likely to arise over the next 20 years. The research then factored in housing and land markets to calculate the cost of procuring the required housing in 88 different areas across Australia.

The table below presents the top 10 SA4 areas that need the greatest number of new social housing dwellings based on this research.

Table 1: Top 10 areas needing the greatest number of new social housing dwellings in 2016

Area	New social housing dwellings needed	Households currently in social housing	Total number of households	New social housing dwellings needed as % of total households
Melbourne—West (Vic)	14,100	6,200	248,000	5.7%
Melbourne—South East (Vic)	13,900	5,700	253,000	5.5%
Gold Coast (Qld)	13,600	5000	216,900	6.3%
Inner South West Sydney (NSW)	13,000	11,800	192,800	6.7%
Parramatta Sydney (NSW)	10,600	11,000	147,800	7.2%
Melbourne—Inner (Vic)	10,100	15,800	266,900	3.8%
South West Sydney (NSW)	10,000	9,400	123,000	8.1%
Adelaide—North (SA)	9,800	12,300	159,900	6.1%
Wide Bay (Qld)	9,000	3,800	115,900	7.8%
Ipswich (Qld)	8,000	5,200	112,000	7.1%

^Source:^{Lawson, J., Pawson, H., Troy, L., van den Nouwelant, R. and Hamilton, C. (2018)}^{Social housing as infrastructure: an investment pathway}^{, AHURI Final Report No. 306}