In August 2006, the Special Rapporteur, an independent expert on the right to housing, toured Australia meeting with individuals experiencing homeless, indigenous groups, civil society and government officials. In his report, he has described what he saw as a ‘serious hidden national housing crisis’ that in some parts of the country has resulted in a ‘humanitarian tragedy.’ In particular, he raised serious concerns about housing conditions for Indigenous people, for women, particularly those fleeing family violence, and for the large urban and rural homeless populations.

Kristen Hilton, former Coordinator of the PILCH Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic, stressed the importance of the report, saying that it was time to acknowledge the crucial role that affordable, safe and secure housing plays in the development of individual lives and society as whole. ‘The Commonwealth government has ratified a number of human rights treaties which impose obligations to ensure that they are working towards the fulfillment of the right to adequate housing. Regrettably, we have seen cuts to public housing spending and cuts to urban indigenous housing.’ The issue has failed to receive the attention it deserves.  There has been a failure to apprehend that poor housing has long lasting impacts for education, employment, physical and mental health and person’s capacity to meaningfully contribute.’

Ms Hilton welcomed the recommendations in the report including the recommendation to amend discrimination laws that currently fail to make it unlawful to discriminate against people on the ground that they are homeless or on social security benefits. ‘We have been lobbying the Victorian Government for changes to equal opportunity laws for several years’, she said. ‘Unfortunately, it is still lawful for people to treat someone in a lesser manner because they have nowhere to call home, because they are unemployed or because they are receiving social security benefits.’

The report also calls for increased tenancy protections and the repealing of State laws that criminalise begging and sleeping in public, and urges the federal government to establish and implement a national housing plan that is informed by a range of stakeholders including people affected by inadequate housing and members of civil society.

In the 2006 Federal Budget, the Howard Government announced a surplus for the ninth time in ten years and has forecast a surplus of $10.8 billion for 2006-2007. Several Australian States have also announced surpluses in recent years.  Both the Commonwealth and the States have a major role to play in ensuring all Australians receive access to adequate housing.  It is unacceptable, Ms Hilton said, that given the country’s wealth there are still over 100,000 people that experience homelessness on any given night in Australia. It is also unacceptable that one in two of those who try to access shelter are turned away due to funding shortages.

The report is critical of the manner in which the right to housing has been afforded such low priority in this country. It is hoped that the attention that the report has generated domestically and within the international community will finally trigger positive and comprehensive action from Australian governments to rise to their obligations to ensure that all Australians have access to safe, affordable and appropriate housing.

For a full copy of the report go to:

http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/4session/A.HRC.4.18.Add.2.pdf

Click here to  view the preliminary report.

Urgent Communication to the UN Special Rapporteur for Adequate Housing:

Click here to view a  report by the PILCH Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic and the Human Rights Law Resource Centre in relation to the Right to Adequate Housing and the situation on the ground in Australia.

The report contains information from a number of housing and homelessness organisations as well as direct insights from homeless people across Australia. The report aimed to assist and inform the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing in his final country report on Australia. The Special Rapporteur conducted an official country visit of Australia in August this year and early in 2007 will present his findings to the UN Human Rights Council and the Australian Government.

The report is also addressed to the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, the Independent Expert on the Right to be Free from Extreme Poverty, the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women and the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous People. The report elucidates the practical implications of the violations of housing rights and the impact that this has on other human rights.