The 2026 Report on Government Services – Housing and homelessness, published by the Productivity Commission on Jan. 29, found worsening housing insecurity across the country, with low-income renters increasingly unable to secure or maintain affordable housing. “Demand for homelessness and housing services continues to rise. In just one year, Mission Australia’s homelessness services saw a 19% increase in demand,” he said. “Every hour, more than 3,200 people in Australia seek help from homelessness services like those provided by Mission Australia. Around 640,000 households are currently unable to access affordable housing, and without decisive action this number will grow significantly in the years ahead,” Carblis added.