We recently held our "Affordable Housing: From Problems to Solutions" event, and we’re excited to share what an amazing day it was. Our community came together to explore real, actionable ideas on how to address the housing crisis here on the Gold Coast. The audience provided many moving stories about how this crisis has impacted them.

To get started, we polled the audience about how we got into this housing crisis. It was a pretty astute audience!

Next we had a brilliant speaker panel.

Matt Grudnoff 

A senior economist at The Australian Institute with special expertise in housing affordability issues.

Matt explained how rising house prices primarily benefit investors, not owner-occupiers, making housing less affordable.

Key Insights

Recommended reducing demand through policies like limiting negative gearing and capital gains tax discounts, as well as increasing supply through government investment.

• Rapidly rising house prices primarily benefit investors, not owner-occupiers. Over the last 10 years, housing supply has outpaced population growth, suggesting that the issue isn’t just about population but housing as an investment.
• 25% of all investment properties in Australia are owned by just 1% of taxpayers, contributing to housing affordability challenges.
• Policies like negative gearing and capital gains tax discounts benefit investors over first-time buyers.
• As younger generations grow as a voting bloc, housing affordability will become a more significant political issue.

Amy Dengenhart 

A senior Gold Coast architect, small lot innovator and developer at degenhartSHEDD.

Amy emphasised the importance of good design in creating affordable and accessible housing solutions that integrate well into communities.

Key Insights

Proposed "invisible density" through small-lot, multi-dwelling developments that maintain neighbourhood character and suggested incentivising architect involvement.

• Micro urban villages in Southport are helping first-time buyers find affordable housing.
• Good design can create innovative, compact housing solutions that blend into existing neighbourhoods.
• Invisible density – multiple dwellings on a single lot – can help maintain the character of a neighbourhood while addressing housing needs.
• Architects and designers can play a bigger role in housing solutions if there are incentives or requirements for their involvement.

Jackson Hills 

Government, Policy & Strategic Engagement at Q Shelter. Jackson represents non-market and community housing providers, as well as homelessness services, in Queensland.

Jackson highlighted the decline in social housing stock over time and the need for coordinated policy and investment across all levels of government.

Key Insights

Advocated for ambitious housing targets tied to population growth and more diverse housing models beyond just public housing. 

• The Gold Coast’s population is expected to grow by 380,000 people over the next 20 years, but the current housing supply isn’t keeping up.
• 500 people sleep rough on the Gold Coast each night, with 5,000 more living in cars and 150,000 households in housing stress.
• Addressing homelessness is an economic imperative, as it impacts healthcare, justice systems, and local businesses.
• We need to move beyond the stereotypes of social housing from the 1950s and embrace diverse, mixed-tenure housing models.
• State and local governments are engaging more actively, but more policy and investment are needed to meet the scale of the problem.

Audience Interaction

Question about increased regulations and their impact on construction costs:

• The panel acknowledged that while regulations—particularly around sustainability and accessibility—are necessary to meet modern needs, flexibility and innovation are needed to avoid adding undue costs to construction.

Personal experience with homelessness and the importance of community and safety:

• The panel emphasised the need for housing that not only provides shelter but fosters community and security for those transitioning out of homelessness.

Discussion on how to better engage the public on ‘missing middle’ housing concepts:

• The panel highlighted the importance of education, transparency, and showcasing successful case studies to demonstrate how gentle density and diverse housing types can integrate into existing neighbourhoods without detracting from their character.

Exploration of using airspace above train stations for low-income housing:

• The panel found this idea intriguing, noting that it aligns with transit-oriented development and could maximise under-utilised spaces in urban areas.

Concern about youth engagement:

• The panel suggested targeting outreach through social media platforms, creating youth-focused engagement opportunities, and integrating housing discussions into educational settings to raise awareness among younger audiences.

Discussion on Adaptable Innovations:

• Anika Asplund discussed a pioneering prefabricated building solutions that are cost-effective, easily replicable, and adaptable to different climates and environments. These modular buildings are cyclone-proof, can be constructed off-site, and offer promising solutions for affordable housing, especially in regions with challenging weather conditions or limited space for development.

Special Thanks

Special thanks to Nick Rone and the Sports House team at Varsity Lakes for helping host this great event.