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Sydney’s Housing Crisis: a Christian Response

Editorial

 
For many years, real estate affordability has been a common small talk topic, for Sydney-siders.   However, these discussions have taken on a heightened level of concern, as Sydney faces an escalating housing crisis. 

At the launch of The State of the Housing System Report 2024, Chair of the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council (Ms Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz) shares with us a story of :- Increased housing prices; Increased interest rates; Low rental vacancy rates; Low supplies of social housing; and Housing demand outstripping supply.

"We have an environment in which prices and rents are growing significantly faster than wages, low-income households can only afford one per cent of homes sold each year, 170,000 households are on public housing waiting lists, 122,000 people are experiencing homelessness and projected housing supply is startlingly low."  [1]

This crisis presents a moral challenge for Christianity.  Our faith requires a response to the needs of the vulnerable and marginalized. 

Charity

• The parable of the good Samaritan is a defining example of how Christians are called to act charitably and with compassion to those in need regardless of their background.  (Luke 10:25-27)
• James 2:14-17 teaches that faith without works is dead, giving specific emphasis on practical acts like clothing and feeding those in need.  Charitable actions are an expression of that Christian faith.
• Jesus considers any acts of charity towards others to be as if they were an expression of love performed for Him.  (Matthew 25:35-40)

While charity involves action to meet the immediate needs of the vulnerable, the Christian call for justice addresses the more systemic causes of these vulnerabilities.

Justice

• The question is asked, in Micah 6:8, as to what God required of us, and the answer comes back loud and clear "To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."  We are called to ensure that systems and laws are fair and protect the vulnerable.
• The Old Testament prophets were advocates for justice, condemning those who oppressed the poor, widows, and orphans. (Isaiah 1:17)

As Sydney's housing crisis continues to intensify, the Christian community has a role to play. We are called, as an expression of our faith in and love for Christ, not only to offer charity but to advocate for justice for the vulnerable within our society.

[1] https://nhsac.gov.au/news/launch-state-housing-system-report-2024-sydney

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