Greater Shepparton City Council adopted Terms of Reference to establish an Affordable Housing Reference Group and authorised nominations for membership, at the August Council Meeting.
Establishment of the Group is included in the action plan of the Greater Shepparton Affordable Housing Strategy: Homes for People 2020, which was adopted in April 2020.
The Terms of Reference outline eight organisations whose representatives are expected to make up the group, including Beyond Housing and The Bridge Youth Services, along with two community representatives and the Mayor. Council officers have also been appointed to assist in facilitating the reference group.
Council Mayor, Cr Seema Abdullah, said bringing a range of experience and knowledge together is important if the region is to address the shortfalls in affordabale housing in Greater Shepparton.
“The vision of the Affordable Housing strategy is for all members of the Greater Shepparton community to have access to safe, affordable and appropriate housing, and this is another step in that direction,” she said.
“The research and consultation that went into the Strategy demonstrated that the extent of housing shortages in Greater Shepparton requires a multifaceted approach.
“Collaborative partnerships between all levels of government, the not-for-profit and private sectors, and the community, will be the key drivers to meet the community’s wide-ranging needs.”
Council will commence the nomination process shortly, with the expectation that the group will be launched later in the year, after the Council election. In the meantime, Council is advocating for housing funding under COVID-19 recovery packages, and progressing other actions from the Strategy.
