NSW housing package to ‘rebuild’ housing system

The NSW state government has revealed a $2.8 billion package designed to enhance access to high-quality, affordable housing for every family residing in NSW.

Premier Chris Minns acknowledged the growing issues of homelessness across the state, with an increasing number of young people, seniors aged 55 and older, and individuals struggling to secure housing.

The government’s $224 million NSW Essential Housing Package seeks to tackle the deficiency in new social housing supply and explore innovative approaches to reduce the social housing waiting list.

This comprehensive package encompasses funding to expand temporary accommodation options, providing a more suitable environment for individuals in crisis.

It also allocates resources to specialist homelessness services, offering stability and certainty to those in greatest need.

The $224 million Essential Housing Package will include:

• $70 million financing facility to accelerate the delivery of social and affordable homes, primarily in regional NSW, by funding initial land and site works.
• $35.3 million for housing services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and families through Services Our Way.
• $35 million to support critical maintenance for social housing.
• $20 million reserved in Restart NSW for dedicated mental health housing.
• $15 million towards a NSW Housing Fund for priority housing and homelessness measures.
• $11.3 million urgent funding to continue the Together Home program in 2023–24.
• $11 million emergency funding for Temporary Accommodation in 2023–24 to support vulnerable people.
• $10.5 million additional funding to the Community Housing Leasing program.
• $10 million for a Modular Housing Trial to deliver faster quality social housing.
• $5.9 million urgent funding to Specialist Homelessness Services to respond to increasing demand.

“This package will be a boost to social and affordable housing and will help break cycles of homelessness,” Minns said.

Housing advocate welcomes housing boost

Housing advocacy group Housing Now! lauded the investment as a catalyst for vital progress in rectifying the state’s troubled housing system.

Chair and former housing minister David Borger commended the Essential Housing Package as a testament to the government’s responsiveness to community concerns, particularly the need for investment in various housing types.

“We have a regional rental crisis that is affecting every town. People on very low incomes are being pushed out of Sydney because we have not built enough social housing,” he said.

“The increase in funding for public housing maintenance is essential to reducing the vacancy rate and ensuring valuable social housing does not sit idle while the public housing waiting list grows.

“This investment is a strong sign of intent from the state government that housing is going to be the issue which shapes this decade in NSW.”

[Related: NSW government splits department to provide greater housing focus]