According to new research from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI), approximately 20 per cent of temporary migrants live in overcrowded conditions, compared to just seven per cent of the general population.
The study, led by University of South Australia associate professor Dr Debbie Faulkner, addresses a critical blind spot in understanding how the housing crisis affects this growing demographic.
“Since the 1990s, governments have tried to make the migration system more flexible by shifting policy from permanent to temporary migration,” Dr Faulkner said.
“This trend has resulted in more than 2.8 million people in Australia on temporary visas at the end of 2024 – the equivalent of 10.5 per cent of the population. Despite this growth, there has been little change in the programs available to support them.”
The research focused primarily on the 1.7 million temporary migrants who are not New Zealanders or tourists, revealing that most lack eligibility for housing support and remain understudied in housing research.
Dr Faulkner said that temporary migrants are often blamed for housing pressures despite evidence suggesting they have minimal impact on housing costs.
A recent study on international students found their effect on Australia’s rental market to be marginal.
The research revealed that temporary migrants are heavily dependent on the private rental market, with only 1.6 per cent accessing social or community housing in 2021, despite many earning wages that make private renting difficult.
Support for struggling migrants often falls to churches or community groups, with some support providers extending beyond their funding mandates to assist those in need.
Many migrants arrive unaware of Australia’s housing shortages and face significant barriers to finding accommodation, including unaffordability and lack of rental references.
“There’s no government department that really looks after temporary migrants, and this disconnect means the housing pressures can go unrecognised, and leave migrants facing a form of hidden homelessness,” Dr Faulkner said.
The study identified particularly vulnerable groups, including women experiencing domestic abuse who aren’t entitled to long-term shelter, and international students whose reliance on informal housing forums leaves them susceptible to fraud.
Researchers recommend expanding national and state services to better support migrants and increasing funding for local support networks.
They also suggest greater oversight of hosted accommodation arrangements, such as those provided through Pacific Australia Labour Mobility schemes.
Dr Faulkner said that Australians should be concerned about temporary migrants’ housing conditions, as inadequate support can lead to entrenched disadvantage and prevent migrants from reaching their full economic potential.
“Many migrants stay long-term – Department of Home Affairs data shows about 60 per cent of permanent visas went to migrants already in Australia,” she said.
