Generation Rent

Living in overcrowded, poor quality, and expensive housing is considered a rite of passage for young Australians. It is considered ‘normal’ and acceptable for young Australians to live in bad quality, overcrowded housing but unacceptable for older Australians to live under the same conditions. Young Australians do not receive the same level of government support to access safe and affordable housing. In Sydney, the most expensive city in Australia and one of the most unaffordable in the world, Young Renters (18-34yo):
Spend 56% of their income, on average, on housing costs
Make up 40% of the homeless population, with the majority living in overcrowded housing
55% reported experiencing discrimination in the rental market
The conditions for young Australians are vastly different to other generations before them, they no longer have the hope of ‘the Great Australian dream’, to own their own home and start a family. Most face a future shut-out of homeownership.

Living in overcrowded, poor quality, expensive housing SHOULD NOT be considered a ‘rite of passage’ for young Australians. We want to change public opinion and convince political leaders to take immediate action to ensure all young Australians have access to good quality, affordable housing.
We want political leaders to provide more financial and services support provided to Young Australians (18-24yo) to access secure, affordable and good quality housing in Australia.

Short-term Outcomes
Increased understanding and awareness of the struggles of Young Australians in the current Australian housing market.
Increased public support for young Australians to access secure, affordable and good quality housing.
Increased understanding in Young Australians of how to access support and services to address rental issues
Medium-term Outcomes
Increased Federal & State financial support and services for young Australians to access secure, affordable and good quality housing
Increased funding and support for young homelessness shelters, youth-specific community and social housing, and services
Increase in the supply of social and affordable housing that is available to young Australians.
Long-term Outcomes
It is no longer considered a rite-of-passage for Young Australians 18-24yo to live in overcrowded, poor quality, expensive housing.
Australian housing prices, both rental and ownership, have reduced to a level that is affordable to young Australians.

In developing this project, we have reached out to a number of advocacy groups who work exclusive in housing issues, youth issues and youth homelessness, including
Tenants Union of NSW
Youth Action
Foundations.
They have expressed strong support for this project and are happy to assist in its development and production by providing research, evidence and data. We are currently discussing the potential to interview representatives from each organisation to be included as part of the documentary.
Our research and story is driven by data and submissions written by these groups as well as other housing researchers. At the start of the year (Jan 2022) we invited young Australians as well as representatives from these advocacy groups (10 people) to a workshop to discuss the key messaging, impact and vision for the project.

Signing an online petition for immediate action to improve support for young Australians to access secure, affordable and good quality housing including with key actions for policy change.
Invite their friends, parents and older family members to a screening of the film or a home viewing through a streaming service.
Share their own housing struggles and their vision for change and tag us on social media.
Share clips of the film through social media.