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Community housing sector welcomes Budget announcements

Media release

18th June 2024

The peak body for community housing in NSW welcomed today’s Budget announcement of investment in the supply of desperately needed new social and affordable housing that will deliver an additional 1,550 homes per year to the state’s most vulnerable people.

“Today’s budget announcements mean we can start to confront the housing crisis in NSW.  The scale of the problem means that solving the crisis will take time,” said Mark Degotardi, CEO of the Community Housing Industry Association NSW (CHIA NSW).

“This investment offers immediate hope to our most vulnerable citizens and longer-term hope that we can make meaningful changes to a broken housing system.

“With 9,000 households on the priority waiting list for social housing, our combined challenge is significant.  This means government and the community housing sector need to work together to deliver as much social and affordable housing as we can.

CHIA NSW said it is critical that the funds are invested in ways that maximise the number of dwellings that are delivered.

“The community housing sector stand ready to work with the NSW Government to get the biggest bang for buck from available resources.

“The community housing sector can maximise the government’s funding by layering in debt finance and other forms of capital to increase the overall investment in new housing.”

“We can get more houses on the ground more quickly by government partnering with the community housing sector,” said Mr Degotardi.

CHIA NSW also encouraged government to consider other ways of increasing the outcomes from the Budget investment.

“Let’s also look at using government land and under-utilised housing assets to see how we can deliver more housing within the budget funding.

“These initiatives don’t hit the Budget – they just put under-utilised government assets to work,” said Mr Degotardi. “By leveraging government assets, community housing providers can build more social and affordable housing and help ease the crisis for NSW’s most vulnerable families.”

Media contact: Bron Matherson, 0438 844 765 or Alana Mew, 0419 929 722

Housing affordability crisis set to worsen – unless more investment is made in social and affordable housing

Media release

3rd May 2024

The Community Housing Industry Association NSW (CHIA NSW) said today’s inaugural State of the Housing System report paints a bleak outlook for vulnerable people on the social housing waitlist and people experiencing homelessness.

The State of the Housing System 2024 report notes that the forecast levels for the delivery of social and affordable housing are significantly lower than demand, at a time when waitlists for public housing increased by 9.1 per cent in the four years to 2023.

“We are now presented with substantial evidence that the housing crisis is going to get worse before it gets better. For the most vulnerable people in our community, who are already struggling with the skyrocketing cost of housing, the crisis will have long-term consequences for their wellbeing, financial security, and social and economic inclusion,” said Mark Degotardi, CEO of CHIA NSW.

“The upcoming Federal and NSW State Budgets must respond to the crisis by committing significant, long-term investment in social and affordable housing. As a starting point, we urge the Federal Government to double the funding for the Housing Australia Future Fund to $20 billion and invest in the homes that our communities so desperately need.

“The NSW Government must also bring its own funding and resources to the table. An investment of just over $2 billion per year for the next five years will deliver up to 25,000 social and affordable rental homes in the state experiencing the nation’s most acute housing crisis.”

The report identifies ten focus areas to improve housing system outcomes. Sufficient investment in social and affordable housing is at the top of this list, in recognition of its vital role as “essential infrastructure for sustainable, productive and cohesive communities.”

“Addressing the housing crisis requires a crisis response. Although there is an important role for sensible and incremental housing reforms, governments cannot, and should not, ignore their fundamental responsibility to invest in the social and affordable housing that is needed right now,” said Mr Degotardi.     

“The good news for governments is that they don’t need to solve the housing crisis alone, but they do need to set the direction for change. Establishing a national target for social and affordable housing is recognised as a way to foster a pipeline of new supply.

“The not-for-profit community housing industry is ready to work with all levels of government to deliver these housing solutions. Community housing providers have projects that are ready to roll but need the funding to get them started.

“We have nearly 58,000 households on the social housing wait list in NSW alone – so what are we waiting for?”, Mr Degotardi said.

Media contact: Bron Matherson, 0438 844 765 or Tamara Kotoyan, 0430 291 890

CHIA NSW demands immediate Government action on rental affordability crisis

Media release

23rd April 2024

The Community Housing Industry Association NSW (CHIA NSW) is calling on the NSW Treasurer to urgently invest in social and affordable housing, as the latest Anglicare Rental Affordability Snapshot reveals rental affordability is at the worst rate it has ever been in.

The snapshot, which analysed 45,115 rental listings across the country, found that there is not a single affordable rental property for those on youth allowance and only three properties nationwide for those on JobSeeker.

“The findings of this year’s snapshot are unacceptable,”, said Mr Degotardi.  The fact that young people on Youth Allowance can’t find a single affordable property is an indictment of just how bad this housing crisis has become.”

With nearly 58,000 families and individuals on the state’s social housing waitlist, Mr Degotardi said the time for half-measures has passed.

“Affordability in the rental housing market has hit rock bottom.  The NSW Government must respond by investing significant sums in social and affordable housing.  There is no greater priority, there can be no other choice.”

“NSW families and the NSW economy will suffer for decades to come if we do not begin to address the rental affordability problem.  We can begin to address the crisis – the community housing sector is ready to work with all levels of government to implement solutions, but we need action now.”

“An investment of just $2 billion a year over 5 years would allow for the construction of the homes that families in NSW desperately need,” said Mr Degotardi.

“This modest investment pales in comparison to the $72.3 billion allocated for transport projects in last year’s budget.”

“The time for action is now, what are we waiting for?” said Degotardi.

Media contact: Tamara Kotoyan, 0430 291 890

Minns Government 12-month anniversary: chance to right NSW track record as one of poorest performers on social housing in the country

Media release

25th March 2024

On the first anniversary of the election of the Minns Government, CHIA NSW has released new data analysis showing NSW remains one of the lowest investors in social housing in the country.

“The Treasurer has the opportunity to right this wrong in the upcoming State Budget, by investing in the social housing our state needs,” said Mark Degotardi, CEO of CHIA NSW.

The new analysis shows NSW remains near the bottom of the ladder, following recent social housing funding announcements by state governments in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

“We have the longest social housing waitlist in the country with almost 58,000 families and individuals waiting – and yet we are investing the least, ahead of only South Australia and the ACT,” said Mr Degotardi.

“Families in NSW put their trust in the Minns Government one year ago. It’s now time for the Government to repay that trust. The Premier has clearly acknowledged there is a serious housing crisis- now is the time for action and strong investment in the social and affordable housing that is desperately needed.” 

Recent modelling by SGS Economics, commissioned by CHIA NSW, revealed that the NSW Government could build tens of thousands of social and affordable homes by investing $2 billion per year over the next five to address the escalating crisis.

The injection of funding would deliver 25,000 social and affordable homes across Greater Sydney and regional NSW over five years while the NSW Government could save up to $1 billion over five years by partnering with community housing providers to deliver half of these homes.

“The opportunity is right in front of the government. NSW has the largest, most capable community housing industry in Australia. Partnering with not-for-profit community housing providers to build more homes that families desperately need is exactly what the community expects from the Labor Government.

“If the NSW Government is serious about getting the 58,000 families and individuals off the social housing waitlist and into homes, it can make a significant start by making the investment and working with community housing providers to build more homes for less,” Mr Degotardi said.

TABLE 1: SOCIAL AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEW SUPPLY FUNDING, PER CAPITA

Jurisdiction Population Proportion of population with unmet housing need Recent funding commitments Commitments per capita 
Northern Territory 252,473 10.8% $5,290,000,000 $20,953 
Tasmania 572,780 6.2% $1,500,000,000 $2,619 
Western Australia 2,878,563 5.4% $2,600,000,000 $903 
Queensland 5,459,413 7.8% $4,850,000,000 $888 
Victoria 6,812,477 5.9% $5,300,000,000 $778 
ACT 466,813 3.1% $345,000,000 $739 
South Australia 1,851,704 5.5% $474,700,000 $256 
NSW 8,339,347 7.3% $1,667,800,000 $200 

FIGURE 1: PER CAPITA SOCIAL AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUNDING IN NSW RELATIVE TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS

Source: CHIA NSW – original data analysis – March 2024.

Based on the Productivity Commission’s (2024) Report on Government Services, Part G: Housing and Homelessness, Table 18A.1, Part G, Section 18; City Futures Research Centre (2022) Quantifying Australia’s unmet housing need: a national snapshot, and State and Territory funding and new supply announcements on social and affordable housing (2022-24).

Media contact: Bron Matherson, 0438 844 765 

New data shows social housing waitlist in NSW has increased by 300 people in a single month

Media release

23rd March 2024

New data released today by the NSW Government shows an additional 300 families and individuals have joined the social housing waitlist in the past month alone. 

The social housing waitlist in NSW is the longest in the country with 57,904 families and individuals waiting for help.

The number of people with urgent housing needs has also increased, with an additional 100 families and individuals joining the priority waiting list during February.

“Every single day, 10 families are joining the social housing waitlist.  At that rate, the State Government needs to build more than 3600 social homes a year just to keep up with the increase in people needing help.  We need an urgent commitment from the NSW Government to significant long-term funding for social and affordable housing in NSW,” said Mark Degotardi, CEO of CHIA NSW.

“These are everyday people who are struggling to keep a roof over their head as rents continue to rise and vacancy rates plummet. They include older people on the brink of homelessness and women and children attempting to escape domestic violence. They cannot afford to wait,” said Mr Degotardi.

Mr Degotardi called on NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey to confront the escalating crisis by committing new and additional funding to social and affordable housing in this year’s state budget.

“The Treasurer can confront the housing crisis head on in this year’s budget. By investing $2 billion per year for the next five years, we can build 25,000 social and affordable homes and begin to make a dent in the housing crisis,” said Mr Degotardi.

“That’s a modest investment compared to the $72.3 billion committed by the State Government to transport infrastructure projects over the next four years.  The most important infrastructure you can invest in is housing.

“The NSW Government has a golden opportunity to respond to the housing crisis.  The community housing sector in NSW is the largest and most capable in the country and is ready to partner with the Government to build more social housing.  And the newly formed Homes NSW is ideally placed to be that partner.  The framework is there – we just need the funding.

“The NSW Government has said that housing is a priority – it’s time that the funding for social housing backs up that claim.

Media contact: Tamara Kotoyan, 0430 291 890  

New modelling reveals NSW Government must invest

$2bn per year in social and affordable housing to address growing crisis

Media release

8 February 2024

New modelling, commissioned by Community Housing Industry Association NSW (CHIA NSW), reveals that the NSW Government needs to invest $2 billion per year over the next five years in social and affordable housing to address the escalating crisis.

The call for funding comes as Australian Productivity Commission data shows NSW is one of the worst funders of social housing, despite having the longest social housing waitlist in the country, with only Western Australia and the ACT spending less.

Key findings from the SGS Economics modelling include:

  • The NSW Government needs to invest $2 billion per year over a five-year period
  • This would deliver 25,000 social and affordable homes across Greater Sydney and regional NSW over five years.
  • The NSW Government would save $1 billion over five years by partnering with community housing providers to deliver half of these homes

Quotes attributable to Mark Degotardi, CEO of CHIA NSW:

“If the NSW Government is serious about getting the 58,000 families and individuals off the social housing waitlist and into homes, then this modelling shows them exactly what they need to do.

“Despite NSW having the longest social housing waitlist in the country, we have one of the worst track records of investing in social and affordable housing.

“Tinkering with changes to planning laws just won’t cut it for the tens of thousands of families struggling for a roof over their head. Almost every other state has already begun significantly investing in social housing and looking for ways to maximise their allocation from the Housing Australia Future Fund. NSW isn’t just behind the eight-ball, we’re not even at the table.

“We need investment now from the State Government to build more social and affordable housing, and governments need to partner with not-for-profit community housing providers that have projects across the state that are ready to go. Make the investment and put the sector to work, delivering thousands of social and affordable homes to families in desperate trouble.”

CHIA NSW will launch the SGS modelling and its pre-Budget Submission to NSW MPs, members, and other stakeholders at a closed launch at NSW Parliament on Thursday.

Comparison of state and territory expenditure on social housing, 2018-2023:

 Average capital expenditure, each year, per personSource: Capital expenditure on social housing drawn from Australian Productivity Commission, Report of Government Services, Part G Housing and homelessness, January 2024  
NT$1,044
TAS$152
VIC$100
SA$78
QLD$77
NSW$69
WA$47
ACT$18

Media contact: Bron Matherson, 0438 844 765 

CHIA NSW sounds the alarm as new data shows sharp fall in Sydney’s vacancy rates for rentals

Media release

7 February 2024

The Community Housing Industry Association NSW (CHIA NSW) has called for urgent action on social and affordable housing in NSW, after new data showed a significant downturn in vacancy rates for rentals nationwide, with Sydney bearing the brunt.

According to the latest data release from Proptrack, Sydney’s rental vacancy rates have plummeted to just 1.20%, the sharpest fall in the country.  This comes as January’s median rental prices soared to $900 a week in Sydney on realestate.com, up by 20% on the previous year.

Mark Degotardi, CHIA NSW CEO, said, “These aren’t the records anyone wants to be setting. With vacancy rates at historic lows, families are in desperate need of assistance as there just aren’t enough homes available to rent.”

“With median rental prices soaring to an exorbitant $900 a week, rent has become the primary driver of the cost-of-living crisis across our state. Finding and keeping a home is increasingly out of reach for more and more families,” said Mr Degotardi.

“The nosedive in vacancy rates is the biggest indicator that the private market is failing to properly provide for the needs of the community,

“These vacancy rates will mean rents will continue to rise and more families will need to rely on social and affordable housing. But NSW is woefully unprepared to meet this surging demand.”

Mr Degotardi said that NSW is falling behind other states when it comes to funding in social and affordable housing, despite the ongoing housing crisis.

“Apart from the rental crisis, NSW faces the country’s largest social housing waitlist. People are enduring chronic housing stress, yet the NSW Government’s funding of social and affordable housing consistently falls short.

“We urgently need increased funding for social and affordable housing as a critical step in addressing this crisis. Community housing providers are a key part of the answer, and it’s time for the Minns Government to collaborate with us in crafting tangible solutions to confront this crisis” Mr Degotardi said.

Media contact: Tamara Kotoyan, 0430 291 890

CHIA NSW calls for action as ABS data reveals rents double wage growth in capital cities

Media release

22 January 2024

The Community Housing Industry Association NSW (CHIA NSW) has called for urgent investment into social and affordable housing as new data from the ABS has shown asking rents skyrocketing at a rate exceeding twice the pace of wage growth across the most capital cities in the country.

According to the latest data, since December 2019 to September 2023, Sydney witnessed a 33 percent spike in unit rents and an alarming 40 percent surge in house rents. In the same period, wages grew by 10.9 percent.

Mark Degotardi, CEO of CHIA NSW said that the data showed the heavy burden the housing crisis is placing on families and individuals, intensifying the broader cost-of-living crisis.

“The failure of the housing market has propelled rents to unprecedented heights.

“Today’s figures show the gravity of our housing crisis. The NSW Government can no longer ignore renters in this State. The pressure on low-income renters is just unbearable.”

Mr. Degotardi pointed to the record-high social housing waitlist in NSW, exceeding 57,000 families and individuals, underscoring the critical imperative for increased investment in social and affordable housing to address the escalating rent crisis.

“The social housing waitlist in NSW has 57,000 families and individuals desperate for help. Despite acknowledging the crisis, the Minns’ Government has fallen far behind the other states when it comes to investing into social and affordable housing.

“Premier Minns confirmed last week that the government will fall short of its target to build 75,000 new homes for this year.

“The private market cannot solve the crisis for low income renters.  It is time for the NSW Government to make a long overdue and significant investment into affordable and social housing that presents a tangible solution to the housing crisis.

“Community housing providers are ready to tackle the crisis, but we need the Minns Government to help work towards a long-term solution to this crisis,” Mr Degotardi said.

Media contact: Tamara Kotoyan, 0430 291 890

NSW housing crisis hits breaking point as 46 people are turned away from homelessness services every day

Media release

12 December 2023

Startling figures released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) today has shed light on the escalating housing crisis in NSW, as surging rents and record low vacancy rates forced more people into homelessness.

The Community Housing Industry Association NSW (CHIA NSW) said the data paints a bleak picture of the options available to families facing the housing crisis.  

“Right now in NSW alone, 46 families and individuals are turned away every day from specialist homelessness services, at a time when there are almost 58,000 households on the social housing waitlist”, said Caitlin McDowell, Head of Public Affairs at CHIA NSW. 

“These figures show there’s nowhere for so many people to turn when they’re in housing crisis, at a time when the rising cost-of-living is putting families under enormous pressure,” Ms McDowell said.  

CHIA NSW said the demand for specialist homelessness services and social housing was even higher than the figures show.  

“We know many people facing homelessness don’t seek out services or apply for social housing at all, so the true demand is much higher,” said Ms McDowell.  

The AIHW’s data shows that in NSW:

  • An average of 46 individuals and families are turned away from homelessness services every day, the third highest rate in the country after Western Australia and Victoria
  • Only 2 in 5 people who were homeless were assisted into housing 
  • 50 per cent of people seeking services were already homeless on first presentation, higher than the national rate (47 per cent)
     

CHIA NSW said the report urgently signals the need for urgent, ongoing investment in social and affordable housing.  

“We cannot solve homelessness without a significant increase in the supply of social and affordable housing,” said Ms McDowell.

“More than 35,000 people are experiencing homelessness on any given day in NSW, and the social housing waitlist is growing.”

“It’s time the NSW Government treated this crisis with the urgency it deserves, by investing in the social and affordable housing that families in our state desperately need,” said Ms McDowell.

Media contact: Tamara Kotoyan, 0430 291 890

New CPI figures reveal surge in cost of rent, showing urgent need for social and affordable housing

Media release

29 November 2023

The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures released today have underscored the urgent need to increase the supply of social and affordable housing, with private rental costs surging by a staggering 6.6 per cent over the past year.

“Families in NSW and right across the country are under enormous pressure from the cost-of-living crisis, and today’s figures show housing is yet again one of the most significant rising costs,” said Caitlin McDowell, Head of Public Affairs at Community Housing Industry Association NSW (CHIA NSW).  

CHIA NSW said that the alarming spike reinforces the need for immediate intervention to increase the supply of social and affordable housing, with low vacancy rates driving the increase in rents.  

“Record low vacancy rates are pushing rents to new heights. Nationally the vacancy rate is just 0.8 per cent. It’s clear there aren’t enough homes available for people to rent,” said Ms McDowell.  

“That’s why to alleviate the cost-of-living pressure on families, we need to urgently increase the supply of social and affordable housing,” Ms McDowell said.   

“Without urgent funding to increase the supply of social and affordable housing, this problem will only continue to worsen,” Ms McDowell said.  

CHIA NSW said without significant investment from the NSW State Government, the housing crisis will continue to escalate.

“Things in NSW are getting drastically worse on all fronts. We have the biggest social housing waitlist here in NSW, with 57,000 families and individuals in this so-called queue,” said Ms McDowell.

“The wait times for these families on the general wait list have increased by 40 per cent in the past 12 months, with some families for more than 10 years for a secure home,” said Ms McDowell.

“Non-for-profit community housing providers are ready to work with Government to make this happen. But we need the NSW State Government to step up and deliver the funding our state needs,” Ms McDowell said.  

Media contact: Tamara Kotoyan, 0430 291 890