Future housing needs

18th September 2006

Will people be forced to live in ghettos in the future or will there be flexible housing to meet the needs of all? The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute recently examined what the housing needs of Australia could look like in the year 2025.

The Australian Property Investor magazine looked at the best to worst-case scenarios that were examined.

Australia divided - worst-case housing choice: a vast divide between rich and poor. Disadvantaged live in overcrowded accommodation, the wealthy live inner city, young people rent and baby boomers who didn't plan for retirement have to stay in the workforce. No housing choice.

Flexible choices: environmentally friendly, flexible housing options. Gen X and Y have stable income streams, builders are attuned to the needs of housing, there's been more housing investment and public transport has had a rebirth.

Outrider scenario: petrol prices have risen to $5/litre. People who can afford it move close to public transport while the rest are pushed into outer suburbs. Walking and cycling become popular and shopping centres decline with the comeback of the corner store.

Housing assistance for very few: public housing is in crisis - only 3 per cent of all dwellings. As investment in public housing declines, people live in ghettos, caravans or factory-built accommodation. Homelessness is rife.

Australia cares for its own: ideal scenario. Assistance given to those in need, with social, public affordable and private investment providing flexible housing options across all income streams.

The research concluded that leadership and innovative policies were needed to avoid the worst-case scenarios.

 

© Australian Property Investor magazine - www.apimagazine.com.au. Reproduced with permission. To subscribe to API, go to www.apimagazine.com.au or pick up a copy from your local newsagent.

Read More Articles in our Archives »