Australia's Housing Challenges for Migrants & Refugees
Amid plunging rental vacancy rates, migrants and refugees are increasingly struggling to find affordable housing, even as they face unwarranted blame for Australia's housing challenges. According to an Essential poll conducted for Settlement Services International (SSI), 43% of individuals with a migrant or refugee background reported difficulties securing affordable housing in the past year.
Over 1,160 people were surveyed, including those of migrant or refugee backgrounds and English-speaking Australian-born individuals. The poll, conducted by the agency responsible for resettling thousands of newly arrived refugees annually, revealed that over a quarter (26%) had been compelled to leave a property due to escalating housing costs in the previous year.
Ariet Oko Agwa, an Ethiopian refugee residing in Australia for about six years, narrowly avoided sleeping in her car between Brisbane and the Gold Coast with her five-year-old son, thanks to her community's timely intervention. Facing homelessness, they were offered shelter in a friend's garage for the night.
Oko Agwa, who grew up in Dadaab, one of the world's largest refugee camps in Kenya, continues to struggle to find suitable housing. As a 25-year-old single mother and disability care worker, she resides in shared accommodation near the Gold Coast, paying nearly $600 per fortnight for a small bedroom. Despite her efforts, she finds the living conditions unsuitable for raising her son, especially after losing all her furniture in Queensland floods two years ago.
Reflecting on her experience, Oko Agwa believes her migrant status may contribute to her housing challenges, stating, "It's very difficult to find a house on my own. Maybe because I'm not from this country."
The survey highlighted that 60% of migrants and refugees believe securing affordable housing is particularly challenging for those not fluent in English. Haitham Subhi, a housing expert at SSI, pointed out that the private rental market has become costlier and scarcer post-COVID, with average rents approximately $200 higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Furthermore, nearly half (49%) of migrants and refugees felt unfairly blamed for Australia's housing affordability crisis, with Subhi emphasizing the need to provide them with opportunities to build their new lives. He added, "The process itself is quite daunting because ... you will find yourself going straight to the bottom of the list."
Experts advocate for regulating the private rental market with industry input and enforcement to address these challenges effectively.
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