HELPING HAND FOR HOUSEHOLDS IN NEED

More than 9,600 vulnerable households in NSW were assisted into homes in social housing last financial year, Minister for Social Housing Brad Hazzard said today.

A further 27,000* households were assisted to rent in the private rental market.

“The Liberals & Nationals Government is reforming social housing by boosting supply and developing more opportunities for tenants to become independent and break the cycle of disadvantage,” Mr Hazzard said.

“Social housing is our safety net for the vulnerable and we were able to take in another 9,600 households last year.

“Today’s publication on the Housing Pathways website of estimated waiting times for social housing shows our reforms are needed to make headway into the 59,000 strong wait list.”

The average waiting time is 3.3 years and up to ten years or more in popular locations. There was a small decrease in the number of applicants waiting and a small increase in the number of residential social housing properties.

The Housing Pathways website had 100,000 hits during the previous 12 months with some 3,000 applicants changing their preferences, with the data allowing them to make informed housing choices.

NSW Government reforms include:

• Construction of first 100 of 1500 new social housing dwellings funded from the sales of Millers Point heritage properties.
• Communities Plus, a partnership with the private and community housing sectors to develop underutilised housing sites to boost housing supply.
• The Vacant Bedroom Charge has freed up public housing for larger families with 625 couples and individuals moving to allow families to live in these larger homes.
• The Social and Affordable Housing Fund is set to facilitate up to $1 billion in new social and affordable housing stock.