Media release
21 June 2022
Community Housing Industry Association NSW (CHIA NSW), Homelessness NSW, Shelter NSW and Committee for Sydney are urging the NSW Premier and Treasurer to address the worsening housing vulnerability crisis in today’s State Budget.
In an open letter to Premier Dominic Perrottet and Treasurer Matt Kean released today, the community housing and homelessness peaks, advocates and think tank said the queue of more than 50,000 people on the social housing waitlist will only get worse if the NSW Government fails to act.
The open letter says rising interest rates and rental prices, and the spiralling cost-of-living mean that more NSW families will struggle to keep a roof over their heads.
Quotes attributable to CHIA NSW Head of Policy Caitlin McDowell:
“This open letter is a clear message to the NSW Premier and Treasurer: this Budget you have a responsibility to ensure families in NSW have a place to call home.
“Our state is in the midst of a housing vulnerability crisis, with more than 50,000 families on the waitlist for social housing.
“The floods, rising interest rates and the spiralling cost-of-living means that we know this crisis is only going to get worse without real, long-term investment from the NSW Government.”
Quotes attributable to Committee for Sydney Deputy CEO Ehssan Veiszadeh:
“Sydney is facing an affordability crisis, with rising inflation and stagnant wages hitting families across our city.
“We need an ambitious plan that puts supply of new homes, near train and Metro stations, at its heart.
“We also need to see much more investment in social and affordable housing.”
Quotes attributable to Homelessness NSW CEO Trina Jones:
“We can’t solve homelessness without housing.
“We welcome the much-needed support for crisis services but to end homelessness there must be long term investment in social housing.”
Quotes attributable to Shelter NSW CEO John Engeler:
“This budget does what is easy rather than what is right. ‘Quicker’ targeted home ownership is admirable – but is not available to all, and this budget ignores that.”
“Good governments have budgets that show secure housing includes greater protection for the growing number of precarious renters – often now in the regions.
“Great governments lead where the market falls short: NSW needs to restore its place as the innovative leader in all types of social housing.”
The open letter is available here.
Media Contact: Kayla Foster, 0447 040 029
RELEASE ENDS
