NSW Government To Fast – Track New Social Housing

The NSW Government’s new strategy to transform the social housing system includes a large-scale building program expected to bring $22 billion in housing construction to the state.

Future Directions for Social Housing in NSW outlines the Baird Government’s strategy for reducing homelessness, providing more housing and support for the most vulnerable, and assisting others to transition out of the system.

More than 60,000 households are currently on the waiting list for social housing across the state. At the same time, the average length of lease has grown, with half of all tenants holding a lease for 10 years or more.

The private and non-government sector will be engaged to deliver up to 23,000 new and replacement social housing dwellings, which will be underpinned by the $1 billion Social and Affordable Housing Fund, and other innovative finance mechanisms.

“Our reforms will see us working in partnership with all levels of government, not-for-profit housing providers, the private sector and social housing tenants to deliver more housing with better support services,” said Minister for Family and Community Services and Social Housing, Brad Hazzard.

The strategy takes a whole-of-government approach, encompassing the departments of Health, Education, Justice, Planning and Environment, Industry and Family and Community Services.

Hazzard said the NSW Government wants social housing to be “a vehicle for breaking disadvantage”. The strategy aims to encourage residents to be “aspirational, not generational”.

Source: News Release, The Property Council of Australia, 25 January, 2016