Latest Policy
3/02/2016
<p>Minister for Social Housing Brad Hazzard launched <a href="http://www.socialhousing.nsw.gov.au/home">'Future Directions in NSW Social Housing</a>', a ten year reform program that aims to deliver more housing stock, a better housing experience for tenants and increased opportunities for independence, support and diversion away from social housing.</p><p>The program includes new partnerships between the private and non-government sectors to deliver more homes and ensure better outcomes for the community through:</p><ul><li>23,500 new and replacement social and affordable housing dwellings via <a href="http://www.communitiesplus.com.au/">Communities Plus</a>; </li><li>Delivering new mixed communities where social housing blends in with private housing, ensuring that large redevelopment projects target a 30:70 ratio of private housing to social housing. As an example, the eight hectare Ivanhoe Estate at Macquarie Park containing 259 dwellings, will be transformed into a high quality integrated community with more than 1,800 private, 556 social and 128 affordable housing dwellings;</li><li>Increasing the use of private rental assistance products by 60 per cent to help vulnerable households avoid or leave social housing; (from 27,000 assistances to 37,000 in 2025);</li><li>Transferring management of up to 35 per cent of social housing to community housing providers, with longer term leases to be determined on a case by case basis.</li></ul><p>Whilst these reforms acknowledge the lack of social and affordable housing in NSW, they fall short of meeting the need for such housing, with the NSW waitlist currently comprising over 60,000 households. Of the promised 23,500 new and replacement social and affordable dwellings, only 9,000 of these would be additional stock. The strategy also fails to establish a state-wide <a href="http://www.nds.org.au/news/article/3452">affordable housing levy</a> to secure the revenue that is desperately required to create new affordable housing stock. Furthermore, it is silent on expanding the range of dwellings suitable for people with disability, for example by developing a capital funding stream. </p><p>In addition to the Future Directions Strategy, the NSW Government has launched the first phase of procurement for projects to be supported by the <a href="http://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/reforms/social-housing/SAHF">$1.1B Social and Affordable Housing Fund (SAHF)</a>. For the first phase of projects to be supported by the SAHF, the NSW Government is calling for proposals from proponents interested in contributing to the initial delivery of up to 3,000 new social and affordable dwellings located in metropolitan and regional NSW, together with associated services.</p><p>The invitation for Expressions of Interest (EOI) seeks submissions from consortia, including community housing providers, financiers, developers and other non-government organisations to help build new social and affordable housing and provide future tenants with the support services required to meet their needs. Organisations are required to register their interest to participate in the <a href="http://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/reforms/social-housing/SAHF/social-and-affordable-housing-fund-invitation-for-expression-of-interest">EOI process</a> by 29 February 2016. The SAHF is a welcome development but will only meet <a href="http://www.communityhousing.org.au/index%20attachments/NSWFH%20%201601%20ART%20%20MR%20Housing%20Investment%20Fundwh.pdf">a fraction of demand</a> in NSW.</p><p>For a further summary of the Future Directions reforms check the <a href="http://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/about_us/media_releases/new-era-of-social-housing">FACS Media Release</a>. For information about opportunities to partner with the NSW Government on other Social Housing projects visit the <a href="http://www.socialhousing.nsw.gov.au/partner-with-the-nsw-government">Future Directions Website</a>.</p>
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