A new report highlights a growing problem: the intersection of the housing crisis and post-disaster homelessness.
, a report on a national symposium held in Melbourne last year, calls for urgent capacity building in the provision of housing and other supports for those impacted by disasters regardless of their housing status.
“Without secure housing, disaster recovery is almost impossible – and the most vulnerable are being left behind,” says Dr Tim Heffernan from UNSW’s initiative.
“You can see this in the recent NSW floods. More than 10,000 homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed. And while it’s possible to clean up relatively quickly, it can take months and years for lost housing to be restored.’’
The symposium, led by HowWeSurvive, the and , brought together 125 professionals from Australia's housing, homelessness, not-for-profit, emergency management, government, and academic sectors to explore issues surrounding housing insecurity and homelessness in the context of disaster response and recovery.
Australia’s housing market is under immense strain. Rents are rising faster than incomes, vacancy rates are at record lows, and . , and only are affordable for low-income earners.
Disasters only make things worse.
Andrew Coghlan, head of Humanitarian Diplomacy – Emergencies at the Australian Red Cross, describes the situation as a “compounding crisis”.
“What we’re seeing is the collision of climate change impacts with an already stretched housing system. Every extreme weather event now has the potential to push thousands more into homelessness,” says Mr Coghlan.
“Responses need to consider how to meet the different housing needs for people across a range of situations – homeowners, tenants, those in insecure or temporary housing, and those who were homeless before the disaster,” says Dr Heffernan.
'Disasters are not natural'
The report challenges the very language we use to describe disasters.
“Disasters are not natural,” explains HowWeSurvive’s Professor David Sanderson, from UNSW's School of Built Environment. “They occur when hazards – like floods or fires – intersect with vulnerable communities. That vulnerability is often rooted in housing insecurity, poverty, and social exclusion.
“This means there is room to act as there are ways, such as being better prepared, to change the vulnerability side of the equation,” he says. ‘’Better still, prevent the disaster in the first place. Stopping the building of new homes in flood-prone areas is an obvious example.’’
With over , and a , the housing crisis is now a disaster risk in itself.
Invisible in the aftermath
The current system fails to support those most at risk, those who were already homeless at the time of the disaster.
Disasters create enormous challenges for homelessness services.
Kate Colvin, CEO of 91˰涶lessness Australia, warns that the nation's most vulnerable citizens are bearing the brunt of housing disruption.
“We're seeing a hierarchy emerge where people who lose housing assets in disasters get support, whilst those who were already sleeping rough, couch surfing, or in crisis accommodation are pushed further to the margins,” says Ms Colvin.
As Dr Lisa Ewenson from HowWeSurvive notes, “People who were already homeless before a disaster – sleeping rough, couch surfing, or in crisis accommodation – are often invisible in recovery efforts.”
The report highlights examples from the Northern Rivers floods and the Black Summer fires, where emergency housing was prioritised for homeowners, while renters and rough sleepers were left with few options.
After a disaster, organisations such as 91˰涶lessness Australia are responding to thousands made homeless overnight and still trying to support those who were homeless before the disaster hit.
Disasters are not natural. They occur when hazards – like floods or fires – intersect with vulnerable communities. That vulnerability is often rooted in housing insecurity, poverty, and social exclusion.
Promising solutions – but not enough
Despite the challenges, the symposium showcased innovative responses.
“After the 2022 Victorian floods, Emergency Recovery Victoria established Elmore Village – a temporary housing site built within two weeks, close to residents’ original communities. Its ‘no wrong door’ policy allowed people to access multiple services without being turned away,” explains Dr Heffernan.
Another model of success was 91˰涶s Victoria’s 91˰涶lessness Flood Recovery Program supported 99 households into long-term housing, including public, community, and private rentals.
A national framework needed
The report calls for a coordinated national response. Key recommendations include:
- National Disaster Housing and 91˰涶lessness Framework to align housing, homelessness, and disaster policies.
- Integration of disaster resilience strategies into the National Housing and 91˰涶lessness Plan.
- Investment in modular and mobile housing, trauma-informed services, and long-term social housing.
- Inclusion of lived experience voices in disaster planning and recovery.
It also urges governments to treat housing as essential infrastructure – critical to both disaster preparedness and recovery.
It’s time to get prepared.
“Disasters are becoming more frequent and more severe. The question is not if, but when. And when disaster strikes, who gets to recover?” says Prof. Sanderson.
“The symposium was a great start, and its findings highlight that we must stop treating housing and disaster response as separate issues.”
