A new study published in Health & Place has looked at 20 years of national data on housing affordability in Australia. It found that people with disability have been consistently more likely to live in housing they can’t afford, every single year from 2003 to 2022.
The study was led by University of Sydney Master of Public Health student Alex Sully, under the supervision of UCRH researcher Dr Jodie Bailie.
The research findings are challenging to read but too important to ignore, demonstrating that housing affordability isn’t just a financial issue; it’s a health issue.
The authors found that living in unaffordable housing is linked to poor physical and mental health. And when people with disability are nearly twice as likely to be in that situation, it reinforces the health inequalities they already face. Despite national commitments to improve housing access, there’s been no sign of progress.
This is a public health crisis, and it’s one that demands attention.
Read a piece authored by the research team on Croakey Health Media.
