More for Children Issues Paper 2: Housing

The latest report More for Children Issues Paper 2: Housing from The Children’s Policy Centre at the Australian National University highlights the profound impact of the housing crisis on children, emphasizing their unique vulnerabilities. It calls for a transformative shift in Australia’s housing system to ensure every child has a secure, affordable, and quality home. Key reforms include treating housing as a human right, fairer tax policies, child-inclusive urban planning, and better quality in emergency housing. Homelessness responses must prioritize children, with Homelessness Australia advocating for an action plan to end child homelessness. This change is essential for children’s well-being and Australia’s future.

The report captures children’s voices on housing, showing:

• The hardships they face when housing is too costly, poor-quality, or unstable.
• The emotional and physical toll of inadequate housing on their well-being.
• How unaffordable housing limits children’s access to safe, secure spaces.

Suggested citation
Bessell, S., O'Sullivan, C., and Lang, M. 2024. More for Children Issues Paper: Housing,
Issues paper 2, Canberra: The Children's Policy Centre, The Australian National University.