Housing Pathways and Affordability
The rising cost of housing has been an ongoing issue in WA and nationally. House prices and rents are escalating at a rate that many households find hard to keep pace with and many young Australians continue to face severe barriers to accessing home ownership. Homelessness is also a growing concern in both regional and metropolitan areas. On the other hand, among older Australians, a major source of financial security is the wealth stored in the family home. Indeed it often represents a nest egg that can mean the difference between a modest and comfortable retirement. Projects under this research theme also delve into a range of issues related to housing affordability and housing security over the life course, and the ways in which housing assets are relied upon to fund retirement needs.