Home and housing

Overview

A home is more than just four walls and a roof. It’s a place where you can feel safe and secure. Your home can also make you feel more connected to your community.

It's becoming more and more difficult for many Australians to find an affordable place to live. Capital city rents have increased at twice the rate of inflation over the past five years. For those who are trying to buy, house prices are increasing exponentially. And there are 205,000 households on the waiting list for public housing.

Paying rent can often push people into financial hardship. Finding a suitable place to live in response to changes in relationships or family size can be a major cause of stress for everyone; especially those with mental ill-health.

It's no wonder that for many people who live with mental illness, finding or maintaining a stable home isn't always easy. Many people end up living somewhere that's unstable or unsuitable. Others may spend many nights ‘couchsurfing’. Some have periods of sleeping in their car and being homeless.

These situations can contribute to a mental health condition or make an existing one harder to manage. Not having a fixed address can also make access to good health care more difficult.

A lack of housing options can make you reluctant to leave an unsafe situation, and this can have a negative effect on your mental wellbeing. If you're concerned about the suitability, safety or security of your current housing arrangement, help is available to enable you to work through the issues and find a better place to live.

Take a look at our pages on neighbourhoods, and feeling safe, stable, and secure.