Welcome to National Shelter
We aim to improve housing access, affordability, appropriateness, safety and security for people on low incomes. Since 1976, National Shelter has worked towards this goal by influencing government policy and action, and by raising public awareness about housing issues.
Media & Advocacy
National Shelter advocates for the housing needs of low-income households. To do this we have established and continue to update a Policy Platform as the basis for our advocacy. We see needs of low-income households in the context of the broad housing system which is impacted by the policies and actions of governments, business and the community.
We utilize a range of actions to pursue our advocacy including using mainstream and social media, direct contact with politicians and business leaders, public engagement and commentary based in evidence and the experience of tenants, owners, services and advocates.
Research & Reports
National Shelter undertakes its own research, prepares reports, provides submissions to government inquiries and inputs to private sector and community sector activities.
We produce the Rental Affordability Index with partners SGS Economics and Planning, Community Sector Banking and the Brotherhood of St Laurence. It has come out twice annually for the past 4 years and has set the benchmark for reporting on Australia’s rental markets.
We have also now produced two National Surveys of Renters with CHOICE and the National Association of Tenant Organisations. Unsettled and Disrupted have introduced the perspectives of tenants themselves to our understanding of Australia’s rental markets.
Our 2019 survey and report on Inclusionary Zoning has promoted the need for planning reform to address Australia’s affordable housing shortage.
Policy
National Shelter regularly updates its policy platform to help ourselves advocate consistently and to inform the policy development of governments. Oppositions, minor political parties, business and the community sector. Our policies are evidence based and draw on the work of an extended think tank of state Shelters, NGO’s, activists and researchers both past and present.
We test our policies against regular roundtables and consultative processes and use our policies to influence and shape agendas.
The Shelter Network
National Shelter is a small organization but with extensive reach and input. As a national peak body we are the tip of a broad base of expertise, information, organisations and networks which work cooperatively to contribute to a broad national effort.
Our network is partly federated where we have active and funded state Shelter organisations in every jurisdiction in Australia except Victoria. In Victoria we work with the Brotherhood of St Laurence as our principal supporter but also with the range of other bodies in this space.
The State Shelters are themselves peak bodies in each jurisdiction working on housing policy and advocacy, sector development, with homelessness services and community housing providers. Some specialize around particular issues and others have to be all rounders as the only peaks in their state or territory for housing and homelessness.
We have national members as well covering tenant advocacy, homelessness, welfare services and community housing.
It all adds to a rich and diverse set of inputs around which we collaborate.
Latest Publications
Media Releases
Media Release: Morrison Government and Ministry
National Shelter has written to the Prime Minister, the Hon. Scott Morrison M.P.,
Media Release – Housing’s Real Needs Not Dealt with by First Home Owners Saving Scheme
National Shelter calls on both major parties to extend their new bipartisanship on first
Federal Budget 2019 Media Release – 5 Bucks a Week Won’t Dent the Rent
Adrian Pisarski National Shelter Spokesperson says, ‘The tax cuts offered by the government
Media Release – Disrupted Report
Disrupted 2018 - Embargoed media release
News
Media Release – Housing’s Real Needs Not Dealt with by First Home Owners Saving Scheme
National Shelter calls on both major parties to extend their new bipartisanship on first
The New Daily – Six reasons why negative gearing changes won’t destroy the economy
The REIA and Property Council have joined forces, claiming the Labor Party’s proposed changes
National Shelter Federal Budget 2019 Analysis
Overall, we were disappointed at the absence of any housing measures while the
Submission to the National Regulatory System for Community Housing (NRSCH) Review
Click here to read our Submission to the 2019 NRSCH Review
ADRIAN PISARSKI: Tackling the Housing Crisis Properly Requires a National Housing Strategy
There is a plethora of well-intentioned research and opinion aimed at solving Australia’s