Not long ago, as the property market boomed, and housing prices soared, I bought my first home. I scrimped and saved, and with a little help from the folks, somehow managed to buy the low budget version of the Australian dream: a cosy little two bedroom flat in West Footscray, just 15 minutes from Melbourne.
I thought I was the luckiest guy in town.
The thing is luck played only a small part in me becoming a home owner. Not everyone can afford their own home. Being white, middle class and in a relatively secure job does wonders for putting a roof over your head. This position of privilege also helps to explain a particular way of thinking when it comes to home ownership.
My original motivation for getting out of the rental market was to give uncaring real estate agents the finger. Ultimately, however, I decided to buy my own place because I thought it would be 'financially strategic' to make a long term investment. West Footscray made sense — I was a single guy on a relatively modest income and could only afford to buy in cheaper areas.
This attitude towards housing, while no doubt sensible and mature in a financial sense, is problematic because it contributes to a wider process of gentrification that supports more privileged members of society.
This in turn places increased pressure on people, families and communities from lower socio-economic and/or culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds looking for a place to live, or struggling to maintain the status quo in a rapidly changing economic landscape.
The effects of gentrification are far reaching. In inner city suburbs of Melbourne such as St Kilda and Fitzroy, there is a history of displacement that occurs when wealthier classes buy up cheaper housing areas.
The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute's positioning paper, 'Gentrification and Displacement', identifies a complex tangle of factors that can reinforce inequalities during the in-migration of affluent households to poorer and lower value areas of cities like Melbourne and Sydney.
It isn't just about rich people moving into poorer areas, it's also about the flow-on effects of this process. When richer neighbours move in, this can lead to a reduction in the amount of affordable housing in traditionally low income areas due to rises in rent and house prices; decreased access to essential services and employment close to the city for disadvantaged groups who relocate; and negative psychological impacts on those who are displaced from their social networks of support.
For migrant, refugee and emerging communities, such as the Sudanese, Vietnamese and Pacific Islanders, the process of gentrification is compounded by other challenges relating to language, culture and race which make settlement and forging a life in Australia difficult.
The Institute for Community, Ethnicity and Policy Alternative's study Refugee Access and Participation in Tertiary Education and Training and evaluation project The Relocation of Refugees from Melbourne to Regional Victoria both identified significant problems refugees face in securing housing.
Private rental housing is often too expensive. Residences can be inadequate for family/community needs, and housing not closely located to social support networks and employment makes it difficult for people to remain connected to their community and sustain a job.
Combine these problems with a lack of information and awareness around housing and renting options, and the cost of relocation or finding a place to live due to gentrification can be steep.
Our understanding of the Australian dream of owning a home is bound up in a process of gentrification. This has the potential to further undermine the precarious housing situation of many people and communities. It is a mindset we must treat with caution.
Importantly, the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute has identified a gap in Australian research around gentrification and issues related to displacement. Initiatives such as this will help to address the complexity of providing affordable housing for all Australians, and to inform appropriate Commonwealth, State and Local Government approaches and interventions into housing markets.
As the economic climate darkens, and interest rates drop, we need to find ways to ensure everyone can afford a place to live, not just those looking for a bargain during tough times.
Dr Ben O'Mara is a Post Doctoral Research Fellow at the Institute for Community, Ethnicity and Policy Alternatives (Victoria University). His work explores the use and application of information communication technology in the promotion of culturally sensitive messages of health and community wellbeing.