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Public Housing

'Something deeply wrong' as market value of Victoria's public housing properties soars

Rent for the vast majority of public housing tenants in Victoria is capped according to income, but advocates say sharp increases in market rents before rebates are applied are causing confusion and concern.
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two public housing towers can be seen with the Melbourne city skyline in the background

analysis:Do you love renting? Does it make you feel patriotic?

Why did we make it harder for younger Australians and low-income workers to own homes? Did we forget some wisdom from the past?
1950s house in black and white

'Too cold to sleep': Homeless campers battle rain, mould and the unknown as winter temperatures plummet

Parts of Australia are recording their coldest temperatures in more than a decade, and people sleeping rough are bearing the brunt more than ever. 
Sweeney teaser image

Water bill hike to be partly offset for pensioners, veterans and concession holders

A day after the state government announced water bill hikes for thousands of SA households, it now says the extra cost will be partly offset for concession card holders. An increased water concession of about $50 a year for about 190,000 eligible customers will come into effect from July 1.
People wearing high-vis orange tops peer through large water pipe.

Water bills to jump by $80 a year as SA premier says future generations will 'wear a bit of debt'

Average SA household water bills will increase by $80 each year to help pay for $1.5 billion worth of new mains water and sewerage connections to rapidly growing Adelaide suburbs.
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Houses and construction material on the ground viewed through ripped packaging

Residents at new social housing development lodge complaints over defects, lack of promised features

There's growing scrutiny over a $104 million social housing development promoted as being accessible for people with disability, after a resident complained promised features were never built.
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A woman standing near a reflection of herself

These kids are collecting cans for cash not to buy lollies or toys, but a block of land

After experiencing homelessness, siblings Annabelle and Sunny Johnson started collecting the neighbourhood's bottles and cans to buy a block of land. It's a lofty goal but their mum is proof that it's possible to achieve after buying a home on her own.
Two kids lying on grass surrounded by empty bottles and cans

Western Sydney explosion that killed one and injured five was caused by gas, investigators find

An explosion that destroyed a townhouse in Western Sydney killing one and injuring a number of others was caused by gas, a source has told the ABC.
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Mhey Jasmine whalan blast victim

'Dudded by an absurd system': Surplus hopes dashed by GST blow, NSW treasurer says

The state government forecasts four years of deficits after a change to how money from the GST is distributed, but has made funding for affordable housing the centrepiece of its budget.
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NSW Premier Chris Minns stands in front of two essential workers at a press announcement about housing for these workers

Sydney does it best, Hobart the worst. An urban strategist says we need to embrace apartment living

Hobart is well-known for its heritage buildings and low city skyline, but an urban strategist says the city needs to build up to improve livability.
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A building in the city.

Mum battling cancer facing homelessness again after rent reprieve

Thanks to a "miracle" gesture from strangers, Joanne and her family were given a place to live while she battles serious health problems; but with her lease about to run out, she is again facing homelessness — in an "exceptionally challenging" rental market.
Needles in a patient's arm in hospital.

Housing Minister Rose Jackson on the state of social housing in NSW

NSW Housing Minister Rose Jackson said she was embarrassed to hear that social housing tenants felt like second-class citizens.
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ABC News Current
Duration: 9 minutes 34 seconds

It took seven tradesmen to fix the hot water in Wendy's social housing, and she's not alone

Over 100 social housing residents in New South Wales are currently without hot water according to Homes NSW, the agency responsible for maintaining social housing.
Wendy Smith wearing glasses and a scarf with her daughter and grandson

Louise's home demolished after a 25 year battle to keep it

With alarming numbers of Australians struggling to find a place to live, every house is precious. In Melbourne, one woman has taken her commitment to her home to extraordinary levels.
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ABC News Current
Duration: 8 minutes 28 seconds

Housing, cost of living prime targets in SA budget

The SA government has spent big on measures aimed at alleviating the housing crisis and easing cost of living pain in this year's budget. But in areas like health, the money is largely aimed at just keeping up with demand while a major arts and culture project has missed out on new funding.
ABC News Current
Duration: 2 minutes 14 seconds

Indonesian workers take pay cut to fund national housing program

Police say they will deploy about 1,600 officers as thousands of workers who are against moves to bring in a mandatory deduction from their pay gather in Jakarta to protest against one of the last policies to be enacted by outgoing president Joko Widodo.
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People in uniforms holding labour party flags on the street.

Andrew's social housing complex has been without water for eight days, but he says it happens most winters

People living in New South Wales social housing say they are facing long waits to have their homes repaired, leaving them feeling "unappreciated and not worthy as human beings".
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Moody portrait of a man in a faulty social housing complex.

Hundreds of new SA homes get big budget boost, as stamp duty abolished for first-time buyers of new homes

Housing measures in South Australia's upcoming budget include another relaxation of stamp duty, and funds for more than 1,900 homes across suburban Adelaide — but hundreds of tenants will be forced to move when properties are demolished.
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An artist's impression of a housing project at Seaton in Adelaide's west.

A gas leak potentially destroyed a Sydney home and killed a person inside. Here's what to do when you smell gas

An investigation into the house explosion in Sydney's west on Saturday is looking at whether a gas leak was to blame, as an expert says leaks can be difficult to detect but can cause major damage. 
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Emergency workers dressed in hi-vis yellow attend to an exploded house

New report gives voice to young Tasmanians caught in housing and youth justice system

As more young Tasmanians face homelessness, a new report shines a light on their challenges.
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Young And Homeless, Tasmanian Report: Empty made bed in beige room.
Duration: 1 minute 45 seconds

Pleas to save damaged Coolgardie public housing

Coolgardie council calls on the WA government to halt demolition of storm-damaged public housing.
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Public Housing Battle, Coolgardie, WA: Family stand in front of damaged house hold sign, 'save our houses'.
Duration: 1 minute 44 seconds

Outback community slams 'ridiculous' plan to demolish storm-damaged house during shortage

The WA government will push ahead with the planned demolition of storm-damaged public housing in the Goldfields, despite objections from the local council and residents calling it "ridiculous" and a "travesty". 
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A group of five people holding a sign saying SAVE OUR HOUSES outside a house scheduled for demolition.

They wanted a night out of the cold after sleeping rough. Instead, this couple found a home

A family who for months had been homeless were able to land jobs and housing when they checked into a country motel for a night of reprieve. They are seeing more and more people booking rooms as a long-term option.
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A young couple stand arm in arm in front of a motel door, she smiles at the camera he smiles at her

Victorian government spends $20m on affordable housing block linked to liquidated builder

A building company used to construct affordable housing under a government program has been linked to a notorious residential construction company that collapsed last year amid legal battles.
A woman standing on a balcony, captioned with the words 'housing woes'
Duration: 2 minutes 19 seconds

Here's why you won't see an $11-a-month apartment advertised in Australia like they have in South Korea

Seoul is one of the most expensive cities in the world, yet some students are only paying $11 a month in rent. Here's how they're doing it.
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A view of the Seoul skyline with mountains in the background