Social Housing Plan - Population groups in need of social housing
Subsection six in Section six of our Social Housing Plan.
A high proportion (41 percent) of households experiencing rental stress are lone person households and one parent families (30 percent). Thus 71 percent of households experiencing rental stress are led by a single person (presumably reliant upon a single income).
Table 13: Type of households experiencing rental stress - 2016
| Household type | No. | % |
|---|---|---|
| Lone person | 2 793 | 41% |
| Single parent family | 2 023 | 30% |
| Couple with children | 794 | 12% |
| Couple without children | 707 | 10% |
| Group household | 371 | 5% |
| Other household | 123 | 2% |
| Total | 6 811 | 100% |
Source: ABS 2016
There are several groups which may experience housing stress due to life stage age health disability cultural background immigrant status and family situation.
Table 14: Groups experiencing rental stress - 2016
| roup within the population | Key housing issues |
|---|---|
| Lone person households (11 percent of households in Geelong) | Lone person households are the largest group of households experiencing rental stress (41 percent) and represent 28 percent of all households experiencing mortgage stress. This is a reflection both of relatively low incomes compared to other households and the very difficult rental market |
| Single parent households (11 percent of households in Geelong) | About 20 percent of single parent families experience housing stress due factors such as single incomes part time work and child care costs. Larger households (for example: 3 or more children) generally experience higher levels of stress. |
| Women and children escaping family violence | Women and children who are forced to leave home may lack income a rental history and have limited financial resources due to the abuse and control exercised by the perpetrator |
| Young people (aged 17-24) | Approximately 900 young person households are experiencing housing stress (or 25 percent of young person households). Some young people live unstable lives and are disengaged from education and employment. Young people with mental health issues disabilities and young people leaving care are particularly at risk. |
| Older people (aged 65 and over) | There are about 1 000 households (4.5 percent of older person households) which experience stress. This is mainly because of the relatively higher levels of home ownership among older people. |
| People who have a disability (people who need assistance) | There are approximately 14 000 people with a disability in the City (6 percent of the population) who require assistance with daily living activities. There are nearly 9 000 people in the City in receipt of the Disability Support Pension. |
| Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) households | There are approximately 2 400 people of ATSI background living in the City which is the largest regional population of Aboriginal people in Victoria. Aboriginal people experience higher rates of unemployment family violence and homelessness. |
| Refugees | Refugees are a relatively minor group in Geelong (2 percent of Victoria) but with particularly high levels of need due to lack of resources language difficulties past trauma and limited access to services. |
| People leaving prison | There may be some people leaving prisons who seek accommodation in Geelong. They may have relatively low incomes lack rental history and experience discrimination in housing and labour markets. |
Source: ABS 2016; Community consultations; Greater Dandenong Social Statistics