Specialist research, policy and advocacy for First Nations housing has been bought together under one roof with the opening of a new office for the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Association - NATSIHA.
The office at Kogarah, meaning "place of reeds" in the language of the Kameygal and Bediagal people in Sydney, was opened Friday at a launch attended by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and advocates from across the housing and homelessness sector.
NATSIHA, the peak housing body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, works to "optimise overall health and wellbeing, and improve employment opportunities, access to education, and connection to the community through developing and managing affordable, safe and quality homes that meet our community's needs".
The 2021 Census showed 24,930 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people were estimated to be experiencing homelessness, up 6.4 per cent from 23,437 in 2016. This represents more than 20 per cent (one in five) of the people experiencing homelessness in Australia.
Of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experiencing homelessness at the time of the 2021 Census 60 per cent were living in severely crowded dwellings, almost one in five were in supported accommodation for the homeless, and nearly one in ten were living in improvised dwellings, tents, or sleeping out.
NATSHIA chief executive Ivan Simon said the Association was "determined to power progress" on First Nations housing.
"There is an enormous challenge ahead of us but NATSIHA is determined to bring solutions to the table, Housing is at the centre of our lives, and we have an enormous challenge ahead of us to bring solutions to the key challenges of lack of supply of affordable housing and severe overcrowding. We are here for the long haul," he said.
Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney noted that access to safe and affordable housing is crucial to the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
"It affects so many other outcomes, like health, education and family safety. Community housing is key to restoring agency and control to First Nations people," she said.
"I congratulate NATSIHA on the opening of their office and look forward to working with them in future."
NATSIHA chief operations officer Rob Macfarlane said NATSIHA "brings together some of the most passionate and committed advocates and practitioners in First Nations housing into one organisation, driving progress at a national level".
"We know that a critical part of the solution to the appalling housing disadvantage our people are experiencing is to build the capacity of the community controlled sector that understands and knows how to best meet our community's needs," he said.
CEO of National Shelter, Emma Greenhalgh, said: "We have formalised the relationship between National Shelter and NATSIHA, and our role is to support and amplify NATSIHA, ensuring that our work bring together allies to deliver on our shared goal housing affordability for everyone."
Homelessness Australia chief executive Kate Colvin said: "We have to know the right questions to ask, and that is where NATSIHA is so important, bringing a national voice to advocate for housing and people experiencing homelessness, in recognition of the significantly higher risk of homelessness for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people."
Community Housing Industry Association chief executive Wendy Hayhurst said NATSIHA's advocacy and policy agenda was "strong and focussed".
"In the short time since NATSIHA was established (in September 2022) it has already influenced policy and debate around one of Australia's most difficult social challenges," she said.
"It's essential that we have a community led peak that can focus just on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander housing at the national level. We cannot talk about housing without talking about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander housing, to inform and enrich the policy and debate around one of Australia's most difficult social challenges. We are committed to collaborating with NATSIHA and supporting its crucial work."
