I’ve never seen it as bad as this’: Community sector family homelessness research priorities in the current housing and homelessness crisis

The current housing and homelessness crisis throughout Australia reflects the failure of decades of neoliberal governance and widening social and economic inequalities. Families at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness are presenting to front-line housing and homelessness agencies in unprecedented numbers. Many families are experiencing homelessness for the first time as well as prolonged durations of homelessness due to an inadequate supply of social and affordable housing. This paper explores the perspectives of participants from specialist homelessness services, housing providers and QUT academics. Their insights and reflections have been analysed within the thematic categories: (1) the personal and structural effects of neoliberal housing and social policy, (2) the complexity of family homelessness, and (3) an under-resourced and ageing housing and homelessness service system under immense strain. This paper explores the research, policy and practice nexus arising from these themes and identifies family homelessness research priorities