Australian Bureau of Statistics
Celebrating the International Year of Statistics 2013

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	HOUSING CIRCUMSTANCES: TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PEOPLE
	This article is part of a comprehensive series released as The Health and Welfare of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

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KEY MESSAGES Torres Strait Islander Australians have similar housing circumstances to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Rates of home ownership and renting for Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years and over (adults) have remained stable since 2002, with around one-third (31%) of adults living in owned dwellings and around two-thirds (68%) living in rented dwellings. One in five adults (20%) were living in overcrowded conditions in 2008, and one in four (24%) in dwellings with major structural problems.

This topic provides a range of information on the housing circumstances of Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years and over, drawing on data from the 2008 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS). Information presented includes:

• Housing tenure
• Housing and health: overcrowding
• Housing and health: housing conditions

This topic includes some comparisons with the overall Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. For a more detailed discussion on aspects of housing circumstances for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including the relationship between housing and health, see the Housing circumstances topic. For information on other aspects of Torres Strait Islander peoples' health and welfare see the Torres Strait Islander people topic.


HOUSING TENURE

In 2008, 31% of Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years and over (adults) were living in dwellings that were either owned outright or owned with a mortgage, and more than two thirds (68%) were living in a rented dwelling. Rates of home ownership and renting have remained stable between 2002 and 2008 and are similar to rates for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults.


HOUSING AND HEALTH: OVERCROWDING

Based on the Canadian National Occupancy Standard for housing appropriateness, which is an internationally accepted measure of housing utilisation, approximately 6,600 Torres Strait Islander adults (20%) were living in overcrowded conditions in 2008. Overcrowding rates have not changed since the previous survey and are similar to rates for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults.


HOUSING AND HEALTH: HOUSING CONDITIONS

In 2008, there were around 5,500 Torres Strait Islander households (24% of households) living in dwellings with major structural problems, such as shifting foundations or major electrical problems, and approximately 8,200 Torres Strait Islander adults (24% of adults) living in these dwellings. The most common problem was major cracks in walls or floors (11%). One in ten adults (10%) were living in dwellings with at least one faulty household facility.

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