Mapping Australia’s older, low-income renters

This research provides a geographic and demographic picture of low-income renters in Australia aged 50+ (LIRiA50+), as the basis to finding acceptable solutions to the challenges of population ageing and housing needs in the 21st Century. It presents changes in LIRiA50+ populations overtime in a selection of map graphics. Projections indicate increasing numbers of older people needing affordable housing, from approximately 200,000 households to about 440,000 households aged 55 years and over by 2031. It is unlikely that public housing will be able to meet this need. The largest projected increases in the LIRiA50+ populations in Australia are likely to be in peri-urban and outer-suburban regions. For example, in New South Wales, the inner-western suburbs are expecting LIRiA50+ population increases of around 40–50 per cent. There are expected to be some significant rises in regional and rural locations, with strong population increases (between 40% and 100%) expected in many regional centres up to 2032. Understanding the current and future distribution and likely growth in low-income, older renter numbers is important for planning and provision of appropriate and affordable housing stock. This data collation will enable aged care service providers and local and state governments, as well as housing providers, developers and policy makers, to better plan solutions to this growing housing issue.