Housing

Adequate housing – that is, housing that provides space for all members of the household and is in good structural condition with adequate working facilities – is essential to good health. Housing that is overcrowded or lacks facilities for washing and cleaning increases the risk of contracting infectious diseases (Ware 2013).

In 2018–19, nearly 1 in 5 (18% or 145,300) Indigenous Australians were living in overcrowded housing (housing that needs one or more additional bedrooms to adequately house household members). This was a lower proportion than in 2004–05 (27%).

In 2018–19, 1 in 3 (33%) Indigenous households were living in housing with one or more major structural problems, such as major cracks in walls or floors, sinking or moving foundations, or major electrical or plumbing problems. This was a similar proportion to 2012–13.

Those living in Remote and Very remote areas were most likely to live in overcrowded housing or homes with major structural problems (Figure 5.5).

Figure 5.5: Proportion of Indigenous households that were overcrowded, and proportion with major structural problems, by remoteness, 2018–19

Sources: Measure 2.01 and 2.02, Table D2.01.1 and Table D2.02.5 – AIHW and ABS analysis of National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey 2018–19.

On Census night in 2016, Indigenous Australians accounted for 20% of the homeless population nationally (23,400 people) – this was a decrease from 26% in on Census night in 2011. People are considered homeless if their current dwelling is inadequate; or if they have no tenure or their tenure is short and not able to be extended; or if their current living arrangement does not give them control of, or access to, space for social relations (ABS 2016c).

In 2016, 70% of homeless Indigenous Australians were living in severely crowded dwellings (needing four or more extra bedrooms), 12% were living in supported accommodation for the homeless, and 9% were living in improvised tents or sleeping rough. Governments across Australia fund a range of specialist services to support people who are homeless or who are at risk of homelessness (AIHW 2019d). In 2018–19, over 1 in 4 specialist homelessness services clients were Indigenous Australians (68,900 people). The rate of services use by Indigenous Australians was 9 times the rate of non-Indigenous Australians, after adjusting for differences in the age structure between the two populations.  

Housing tenure – whether a person owns or is buying a home, is renting privately or is living in social housing – can affect health. Home ownership can provide security, stability and autonomy, but housing costs can leave less money available for other necessities (Hulse et al. 2010).

Although Indigenous households are less likely than non-Indigenous households to own or be buying their own home, the gap has narrowed.

In 2016, nearly 4 in 10 (38%) Indigenous households were home owners/buyers, compared with just over 3 in 10 (32%) in 2001. The proportion of non-Indigenous home owners/buyers fell over the same period (from 69% in 2001 to 66% in 2016). The proportion of Indigenous Australians living in social housing decreased over the 15 years (Table 5.2).

Table 5.2: Housing tenure trends, 2001–2016 (%)

Source: AIHW analysis of ABS Census of Population and Housing (AIHW 2019a).

For further information, see:

• 2.01 Housing