The National Foundation for Australian Women (NFAW) welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Senate Inquiry into Affordable Housing. NFAW is a non-partisan feminist organisation working to achieve policy outcomes for women. NFAW has been advocating on behalf of women, including in relation to access to more affordable housing, for over two decades.

Access to affordable housing is a critical issue for women, their families and the economy.

The last ten years has seen a continual increase in the number and proportion of people who are homeless or living in marginal housing. Private renters, single-person households under the age of 65 and low-income home purchasers experience housing affordability stress most acutely. Women are over-represented among these groups, especially women with children. Research also shows that large numbers of single, older women will soon reach retirement without economic and housing security.

Failure to address the lack of affordable housing has implications not only for women but also health, employment and educational outcomes for the individuals, families, and the economy. The National Housing Supply Council (NHSC) projects that by 2020 the dwelling gap between supply and demand will have grown to 456,400 dwellings.v Housing is an engine of growth in the economy. It is vital that reform that improves the regulation, investment and coordination of housing policy across all levels of governments is undertaken.

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