Increasing the stock of social housing to 10% of all residential dwellings by 2050 can ensure those in need in NSW have a place to call home. Homelessness NSW today launches Ending Homelessness Together, a roadmap for the NSW Government and business to increase supply of housing for those worst hit by the current rental and cost of living crises. Homelessness NSW CEO Trina Jones said an additional $1.18 billion a year – equivalent to just 1% of state government spending – is required to begin to address the decade-long waiting list for social housing and the more than 70,000 homeless people a year currently being supported by the government and service providers. “Homelessness should not be accepted as a fact of life by political leaders or citizens in a state as prosperous and as caring as NSW,” Ms Jones said. “The solutions we outline today would not only boost economic activity but also ease the strain on health, mental health and corrective services that are disproportionately needed by those without a safe home to rely on. “We can’t solve homelessness without more housing, it’s as simple as that. Housing that is affordable for people on low incomes – the same people who are increasingly being locked out of the rental markets in cities and regions across NSW. “Our plan, Ending Homelessness Together, provides three practical solutions that the NSW Government and its agencies, supported by business, and community can implement to ensure everyone has a place to call home.” They are: 1. Increase net stock of social housing from 4.7% to 10% 2. Properly fund homelessness services to meet rising demand 3. Create a ‘Homelessness Commissioner’ to coordinate across government
Ms Jones said the supply of social housing has been neglected to such an extent that Homelessness NSW is urging the NSW Government to partner with the Australian Government to urgently build 5000 net new social housing dwellings a year for ten years. “This would provide much-needed homes that people on the waiting list currently wait more than ten years to access but also lay the groundwork for future planning reforms and the introduction of innovative delivery models for ongoing investment,” Ms Jones said. “NSW currently builds an average of 34,000 residential dwellings per year, of which approximately 700 – or 2% – are social housing dwellings. In total, 4.7% of all residential dwellings are public housing. Increasing supply to 10% by 2050 represents about 200,000 additional homes. “The lack of supply is getting worse as more people are being forced to live in tents, cars and vans because they can’t afford rent. I have visited and spoken to entire families who are living in tents without any option of a roof over their head. “At the current rate of social housing investment in NSW, we estimate it could take 70 years to house everyone on the waiting list. Together, we can end homelessness but right now is when we need to see the commitment to start on the task.”
Key Facts:
FACTS ON HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS IN NSW
· 70,000 people were assisted for homelessness in 2021
· There are currently 50,000 people on the public housing waiting list
· In regional areas less than 1% of rentals are available to people on low income
· To increase public housing to 10% of all residential stock, 200,000 more dwellings need to be built by 2050
· Building 5000 homes a year would add $23 billion to the state economy over the forward estimates
· Social housing significantly reduces demand for health, mental health and corrective services by people experiencing homelessness
About us:
Homelessness NSW (HNSW) is a not for profit organisation that operates as a peak agency for its member organisations to end homelessness across NSW. Our members include small, locally based community organisations, multiservice agencies with a regional reach and large state-wide service providers.
