Social benefits of home ownership more important to Indigenous people than financial: study finds

The social benefits of owning a home are more important to Indigenous people than the economic perks, according to a new Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute.

(AHURI) study being presented at the 6th National Housing Conference in Melbourne this week.

The AHURI research - which investigated 86 indigenous Australians perceptions of home ownership across five sites in New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia - found 92 per cent of respondents cited the ability to pass a house down in the family as their main motivation for buying a home.

In contrast, Indigenous people showed little interest in buying a house for financial investment or as an asset. Two thirds commented on the economic burden of owning a home.

“Owning a home was viewed as fostering a sense of security, stability, wellbeing and identity for their families,” said lead researcher from the AHURI Queensland Research Centre, Professor Paul Memmott. “Home ownership was also seen to provide an increased sense of control and freedom, as well as boosting self-esteem.”

“The value placed on the social benefits of home ownership stems from traditional social and kinship values. Being able to pass on a home to their children and grandchildren, and ensuring the house remains in the family, is important to many Indigenous people.

“In some ways, Indigenous attitudes towards home ownership are similar to those of the older generation in mainstream Australia,” Prof Memmott said.
The study found Indigenous people’s attitudes towards home ownership were relatively consistent across remote, regional and metropolitan areas.

“We were quite surprised by the finding that remote and urban attitudes towards home ownership did not greatly differ in many respects,” said Prof Memmott.
The study also found 39 per cent of respondents preferred to remain in the home they already lived in, as opposed to purchasing a new house.

“Respondents also preferred to buy a home in their own community, rather than moving to another nearby town or regional city, which reinforces the importance of social versus financial benefits of home ownership.”

“We hope this research will help to inform government policy, schemes and initiatives around indigenous housing in Australia.”

Prof Memmott will present his research findings at the 6th National Housing Conference in Melbourne this week, hosted by the Victorian Department of Human Services Housing division and AHURI. For more information visit: nationalhousingconference.org.au