A new analysis has found financial difficulties and housing affordability stress skyrocketed in 2022, driving a surge in demand for homelessness support, with NSW, WA, Tasmania and SA worst affected.

The analysis of Australian Institute of Health and Welfare figures has been released as advocates warn the situation will deteriorate in 2023 unless there is a significant expansion of social and affordable housing, Commonwealth Rent Assistance and deeper funding support for homeslessness support providers.

According to the analysis, an additional 8,408 Aussies suffered finance and housing issues severe enough to prompt them to seek specialist homeless support in 2021-22, an increase of 9.2 per cent.

Kate Colvin, Everybody’s Home national spokesperson, warns Clinton Maynard that urgent attention was needed.

“When the number of Australians seeking homelessness support because of finance and housing issues nudges double digits, the alarm should be sounding loudly.

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