Home Research Housing in urban policy Housing in urban policy Coordinating planning and housing supply targets to deliver urban consolidation and renewal with diverse housing, including social and affordable housing. Coordinating planning and housing supply targets to deliver urban consolidation and renewal with diverse housing, including social and affordable housing Access to affordable, appropriate, safe and secure housing is foundational to the economic, environmental and social functioning of cities. Urban policy in Australia is primarily focused on the supply of new housing in Australian cities in response to the need to manage urban growth boundaries and address housing affordability issues. This includes consideration of the type and location of new housing supply; the impact of housing on urban form; and the provision of affordable and non-market housing. Read the full brief News and Briefs AHURI news and briefs on accommodating the diverse housing needs of city-dwellers Research publications AHURI research on the use of the planning system to generate better housing outcomes by coordinating Australian urban policy, planning regulation and housing goals. Latest News and Briefs brief Accommodating the diverse housing needs of city-dwellers Access to affordable, appropriate, safe and secure housing is foundational to the economic, environmental and social functioning of cities. view details brief What is the right level of social housing for Australia? In the 40 years between 1981 and 2021 the percentage of all Australian households living in social housing has ranged from 4.9 per cent in 1981 to 3.8 per cent in 2021. Such a drop in the proportion of social housing raises the question of has Australia achieved the balance right, and also just what is the right level of social housing for Australia? view details brief What role can local government play in delivering affordable housing? With increasingly unaffordable house prices in Australia’s major urban areas, many Australian local government areas (LGAs) are developing affordable housing strategies, often framed around the need for housing for low income ‘key’ workers in their neighbourhoods. view details brief When is a dwelling considered ‘crowded’ and ‘severely crowded’? Deciding when a house is underutilised, occupied efficiently or crowded is important in determining social policy about housing. With people living in ‘severely’ crowded dwellings—the fastest growing category of homelessness—it is important to understand exactly what is meant when we refer to crowding. view details
brief Accommodating the diverse housing needs of city-dwellers Access to affordable, appropriate, safe and secure housing is foundational to the economic, environmental and social functioning of cities. view details
brief What is the right level of social housing for Australia? In the 40 years between 1981 and 2021 the percentage of all Australian households living in social housing has ranged from 4.9 per cent in 1981 to 3.8 per cent in 2021. Such a drop in the proportion of social housing raises the question of has Australia achieved the balance right, and also just what is the right level of social housing for Australia? view details
brief What role can local government play in delivering affordable housing? With increasingly unaffordable house prices in Australia’s major urban areas, many Australian local government areas (LGAs) are developing affordable housing strategies, often framed around the need for housing for low income ‘key’ workers in their neighbourhoods. view details
brief When is a dwelling considered ‘crowded’ and ‘severely crowded’? Deciding when a house is underutilised, occupied efficiently or crowded is important in determining social policy about housing. With people living in ‘severely’ crowded dwellings—the fastest growing category of homelessness—it is important to understand exactly what is meant when we refer to crowding. view details
