Media release

6 April 2023

New data reveals Sydney is now the most expensive place to rent in Australia while rental vacancy rates across NSW are at record lows, putting further pressure on tenants as a rental subsidy scheme continues being wound back.

Community Housing Industry Association NSW (CHIA NSW) has called for urgent action from the NSW Labor Government following the release of the latest CoreLogic data, which shows a 12.6% year-on-year surge of rental prices and a drop in vacancy rates to 1.2 percent across Sydney.

These alarming figures come at the same time as the Federal Government winds back the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) which has provided thousands of homes with rental subsidies in NSW since it was introduced in 2008.

NSW will continue to lose NRAS properties in 2023 and by the time the scheme ends in 2026, almost 2,400 affordable housing properties are expected to be lost.

A further 2,500 NRAS properties will be retained as affordable rental housing by community housing providers who will be forced to cover the gap left by the subsidy.

CEO of CHIA NSW Mark Degotardi said winding back the NRAS in the current housing crisis will have disastrous impacts and take rental affordability in NSW backwards unless ongoing rental subsidies and significant investment in social and affordable housing supply are prioritised.

“The current state of the private rental market is a train-wreck. People who are evicted from ex-NRAS properties will be condemned to an unwinnable battle of finding rental housing,” Mr Degotardi said.

“Evicted families will be forced to compete in the unaffordable private rental market, which means they may have to move away from their hometowns to find housing, leaving behind their schools, work, and communities.

“A short-term solution is to provide rental subsidies until the supply of social and affordable housing improves, ensuring no low-income families are left out in the cold.

“It’s no secret that NSW needs more social and affordable housing supply, but there is already evidence that affordable housing is most effectively delivered by non-profit community housing providers by leveraging existing housing stock and providing rental subsidies,” said Mr Degotardi.

CHIA NSW is calling for the Federal Government to provide an extended subsidy for existing NRAS properties and for the incoming NSW Labor Government to make a long-term commitment to investing in new social and affordable housing supply. “We need urgent action to retain existing affordable housing, as well as investment in new social and affordable housing, otherwise this crisis will deteriorate even further,” Mr Degotardi said.

Media contact: Bron Matherson, 0438 844 765

Media release

4 April 2023

The Community Housing Industry Association NSW (CHIA NSW) has congratulated Rose Jackson on being appointed the state’s new Housing and Homelessness Minister, while urging her to advocate for a significant and long-term investment in social and affordable housing in NSW.

CHIA NSW CEO Mark Degotardi said NSW urgently needs the new State Government to invest in building more social and affordable housing to cut the social housing waitlist which grew by 15 percent last year, and is now sitting at a staggering 58,000 individuals and families.

“This is an urgent call for the new Labor Government to get started on addressing the housing emergency today, because it’s only getting worse,” said CHIA NSW CEO Mark Degotardi.

“The housing emergency was a top tier issue for voters during the election campaign, but neither major party announced significant, tangible policies to tackle the problem.

“Vacancy rates in Sydney are at record lows of below one per cent, homelessness has skyrocketed across parts of regional NSW, and we’ve got a social housing waitlist with eye-watering queues in excess of ten years.

“The Minns’ Labor Government didn’t create this problem, but fixing it is now clearly its responsibility. We can no longer sit idly by while more than 200,000 households in NSW are in housing stress or facing homelessness.

“The announcement of the new ministry must be the start of a new compact between Government, not-for-profit community housing providers and the private sector – a commitment to the people of NSW that we do not accept the status quo.

“Ten-year social housing waiting lists, families unable to pay for basic needs like health or education, people living in cars or calling tents their permanent home are the things that must change.

“These problems are solvable with a strong housing strategy, sustained and significant investment from the Government and effective partnerships with key providers like the community housing industry.

“The work must start now.” said Mr Degotardi.

Media contact: Bron Matherson, 0438 844 765

Media release

22 March 2023

Read CHIA NSW’s Addressing rough sleeping and changing lives: The case to make Together Home a permanent Housing First response in NSW report here.

The state’s peak community housing organisation, the Community Housing Industry Association NSW (CHIA NSW), has warned that a life-changing program that gets people sleeping rough into secure homes is set to end, putting hundreds of people at risk of homelessness.

The Together Home program has provided stable housing and support to over 1,000 people since July 2020, however the majority of participants are set to exit the program by the end of this year.

This call comes as the latest Census data shows there has been a small but welcome decrease in people experiencing homelessness in NSW since 2016.

The 2021 Census was held during COVID-19 lockdowns, during which time the NSW Government provided temporary accommodation to rough sleepers as a health prevention measure. However, the Census results show the Together Home program is effective in ending homelessness by ensuring people sleeping rough have safe and secure housing and much-needed additional support.

CHIA NSW is urging the NSW State Government to commit to a Housing First policy across NSW and make the Together Home program permanent by committing to $25 million per year to continue the successful program.

“Together Home has supported over 1,000 people in NSW to get off the streets and into a safe home with wrap-around support. This has allowed them to sustain their tenancies and to enter education and training and to secure jobs. It’s a life-changing program,” said Mark Degotardi, CEO of CHIA NSW.

“The Census results are encouraging but we can’t stop now.  The Census data is more than a year old, during which time rents have increased by over 20% while inflation has neared 8%, putting more people at risk of homelessness than ever before.  All the progress will be lost if the Government doesn’t keep funding this highly effective program.”

CHIA NSW has also called for the NSW Government to build an additional 200 social housing properties every year for people exiting the program, to ensure those who’ve benefited from the program are not forced back into homelessness when they leave it.

More than 850 people are expected to exit from the program by late 2023, however current funding will only provide homes for only 20 percent of people.

Mr Degotardi said funding of $25 million per year would provide 250 new Together Home packages each year as well as on-going support for people with high and complex needs.

He said it was critical that the NSW Government builds more housing for participants exiting the program, to ensure the benefits of the program were not lost.

“When people exit the Together Home program, they are facing a rental market which has record-low vacancy rates and record-high rents, and a social housing waitlist of almost 58,000 households,” said Mr Degotardi.

“This means that nearly 700 individuals and families are at risk of slipping back into homelessness,” he said.

“The funding from the past two state budgets, with co-contributions from community housing providers, will deliver 220 homes over the coming years. That’s a great start but it’s not enough – it will only meet the needs of 20 percent of current program participants,” said Mr Degotardi.

“We urgently need funding for the Together Home program to continue to ensure those who are already in the program are not at risk of becoming homeless again, while also providing support to people who continue to sleep rough. Our recommendation is that the program is embedded as a permanent Housing First response in NSW.

Read CHIA NSW’s Addressing rough sleeping and changing lives: The case to make Together Home a permanent Housing First response in NSW report here.

Media contact: Bron Matherson, 0438 844 765

Media release

03 March 2023

The NSW Coalition’s commitment to protections for renters are welcome but will not address the escalating housing crisis, the Community Housing Industry Association NSW (CHIA NSW) says.

“New figures released today reveal that there is a rental vacancy rate of 0.9 per cent in NSW. This clearly shows there are not enough affordable rentals available in our state,” said Mark Degotardi, CEO of CHIA NSW.

“Today’s commitment by Premier Perrottet to introduce protections for renters is welcome, but it will do nothing to address the shortage of affordable homes,” said Mr Degotardi.

“These sorts of initiatives provide support for those who have a rental home, but how does the NSW Government plan on supporting those who are either living in housing stress or are facing homelessness, when there is nowhere for them to go?”

“There are almost 58,000 families and individuals on the social housing waitlist in NSW, and many are waiting more than 10 years for a home.

“We are facing an escalating housing crisis, and while it’s a positive to see that renters will have some level of protections, nothing will change without real, long-term investment in social and affordable housing,” said Mr Degotardi. 

Media contact: Kayla Foster, 0447 040 029

Media release

03 March 2023

The peak body for community housing in NSW, Community Housing Industry Association NSW (CHIA NSW) is calling on the NSW Government to confront the housing crisis as Sydney records yet another new record-low rental vacancy rate.

Mark Degotardi, CEO of CHIA NSW said the vacancy rate figures were one of many indicators that NSW is facing a housing crisis.

“Sydney’s new record-low vacancy rate is more proof that our state is in the midst of a housing crisis,” said Mark Degotardi, CEO of CHIA NSW.

“The social housing waitlist in NSW increased by 15% in the last year alone, to almost 58,000 families and individuals. This number is going to get worse, as there aren’t enough homes available for people to rent.

“This is a crisis, and it requires an urgent, emergency response from the NSW Government,” Mr Degotardi said. 

The data released today by Domain for February shows that vacancy rate in Sydney have slipped to a new record low 0.9 per cent, with Domain warning the conditions are going to get more serious. This vacancy rate has halved since the same time last year, and has decreased by over 65% since January 2021.

“One of the key causes of the housing crisis is neglect by successive state governments. For decades they have failed to invest in the social and affordable rental housing NSW desperately needs,” said Mr Degotardi.

“Our leaders cannot keep turning their backs on the thousands of families across our state struggling to keep a roof over their head. Ahead of the state election, both sides of politics must confront the crisis, and commit to investing in the social and affordable housing our state needs,” Mr Degotardi said.

Media contact: Kayla Foster, 0447 040 029

Media release

21 February 2023

The community housing sector and business leaders in Western Sydney are calling for state politicians to take urgent action on the housing crisis, after figures revealed an 8 per cent increase in the number of people languishing on the social housing waitlist in Western Sydney alone.

There are now 18,377 individuals and families on the social housing waitlist in Western Sydney, many are in the queue in areas with wait times of over 10 years.

The figures also show there are now 57,750 individuals and families on the social housing list in NSW, an increase of 15 percent in a single year.

That data backs up recent figures from the UNSW City Futures Research Centre, which found one in ten households across ten suburbs in Sydney’s west are struggling with rental stress, living in over-crowded conditions, or experiencing homelessness. The figures show the state’s housing emergency is at its worst in Sydney’s west.

With the housing crisis at its worst in Sydney’s West, Business Western Sydney, Community Housing Industry Association NSW (CHIA NSW) and Evolve Housing have united to host a pre-election event in Parramatta, to urge all parties to commit to confront the escalating housing crisis.

The event on Wednesday 22^nd of February at the Parramatta Square Business & Events Centre will be hosted by CEO of CHIA NSW Mark Degotardi, and speakers include:

• David Borger, Executive Director of Business Western Sydney,

• Trina Jones, CEO of Homelessness NSW

• Lyall Gorman CEO of Evolve Housing,

• Nicola Lemon, CEO of Hume Housing,

• Ryan van den Nouwelant, Researcher from UNSW City Futures.   

Quotes attributable to Lyall Gorman, CEO of Evolve Housing, local community housing provider:

“Western Sydney is at the epicentre of Sydney’s housing crisis emergency. Too many families are being left behind, struggling to keep a roof over their heads as cost-of-living pressures skyrocket.

“We need our political leaders to stand up and show they really care for struggling people in Western Sydney by making tangible and long-term investment in social and affordable housing.”

Quotes attributable to Mark Degotardi, CEO of Community Housing Industry Association NSW:

“Politicians from all sides are on notice; fixing the state’s housing crisis is a top priority for voters. Especially for residents in Western Sydney.

“People are struggling just to keep a roof over their heads. Rents are soaring and vacancy rates are plummeting.  

“This is a housing crisis, and it deserves an emergency response. Governments cannot relegate this crisis to the ‘too hard’ basket’.

“Investment in social and affordable housing to be delivered by community housing providers is the key. It will get people off the waiting list, and into long-term, secure homes,” said Mr Degotardi.

Click on this link to register to attend the event.

Media contact: Tanya Evans, 0424 156 146

Media release

16 February 2023

The Community Housing Industry Association NSW (CHIA NSW) has called for urgent action on the housing crisis in the state ahead of the NSW State Election in 2023, as the waitlist for social housing grew by 15 percent in just one year.

CHIA NSW and Homelessness NSW will host “Housing for All” today, a pre-election Town Hall event in Sydney which will hear from politicians from Labor, the Greens and Independents, as well as housing experts and people with lived experience of the housing crisis.

There are now 57,750 vulnerable families and individuals waiting for a safe, secure, and affordable social housing property. That figure is a 7,822 jump from 49,928 in 2021.

The regions with a minimum wait time for social housing of a decade have also continued to increase along with the number of families seeking housing.

Suburbs with waitlists of 10+ years for 2+ bedrooms	No. of households waiting for housing
Inner West	1639
Sutherland	803
Blue Mountains	403
St George	1813
Fairfield	3848
Liverpool	2154
Gosford	1386
Wyong	1915
Port Macquarie	924
Tweed Heads	1088

“Too many people are struggling just to keep a roof over their heads. The fact that more than 57,000 households and individuals are waiting for social housing shows just how dire this situation is,” said CHIA NSW CEO Mark Degotardi.

“That’s why today, we’re gathering people who are feeling the pain of this housing crisis in front of the politicians who can do something about it.

Mr Degotardi said unless urgent action is taken by the next state government, the housing crisis will continue to worsen.

“We’ve had years of neglect by both sides of politics which has left this catastrophic situation of people facing uncertainty over whether they can keep a roof over their heads.

“Interest rates and rental prices are soaring, while vacancy rates are plummeting. These figures should be a wakeup call to every politician in this state – you cannot continue to sit idly by while tens of thousands of everyday families and individuals struggle for the basic necessity of housing.

“This emergency will be hard to solve and we must start now. Investment in social and affordable housing delivered by community housing providers is the key. It will get people off the waiting list, out of housing crisis, and into long-term, secure homes,” said Mr Degotardi.

Housing for All event details can be found here: https://events.humanitix.com/copy-of-housing-for-all-nsw-pre-election-town-hall-event

Media contact: Bron Matherson, 0438 844 765

About the Confront the Crisis campaign: The campaign is about putting pressure on all parties to commit to real, long-term investment in community and affordable housing in NSW, ahead of the NSW State Election. Learn more at confrontthecrisis.com

Media release

09 February 2023

Community Housing Industry Association NSW has welcomed the State Government’s re-commitment to fund infrastructure but says investment in social housing is urgently needed to address the housing crisis.

“Unlocking land and building water and transport connections in regional NSW is absolutely needed,” said Mark Degotardi, CEO of CHIA NSW and spokesperson for the Confront the Crisis campaign.

“But without an urgent injection of funding to build more social and affordable housing, this commitment will barely scratch the surface of the social housing waitlist,” Mr Degotardi said.

“The social housing waitlist in NSW grew by 7,000 people in the last year alone. There are now 57,000 families and individuals in this so-called queue, and many of them will wait more than 10 years for a home.”

The announcement names several regions which have been allocated funding for infrastructure projects, including the Central West and Mid North Coast. Here is how the social housing waitlist has changed in those regions in just one year:

Area	2021 waitlist	2022 waitlist	Increase/decrease %
Dubbo	440	589	33.9% increase
Bathurst	281	424	50.9% increase
Orange	261	376	44% increase
Foster/Tuncurry	285	352	23.5% increase
Taree	283	377	33.2% increase
Port Macquarie	819	924	12.8% increase
Coffs Harbour	786	886	12.7% increase
Kempsey	256	313	22.3% increase

“There are more and more people joining the queue for social housing in these regions. That is why targeted funding for social and affordable housing is absolutely critical,” said Mr Degotardi. 

The Perrottet Government’s announcement today does not include new funding but is a re-announcement of funding that was included in last year’s State Budget.

“Let’s be clear; Premier Perrottet is re-packaging funding that was already announced in last year’s State Budget,” said Mr Degotardi.

“Re-announcing funding for infrastructure is not going to get our state out of this escalating housing crisis.”

“This week’s interest rate rise is only going to add fuel to the fire for people struggling to keep a roof over their head.”

“It’s time our leaders took this crisis seriously, and invested in the social and affordable housing our state desperately needs,” said Mr Degotardi.

Media Contact: Kayla Foster, 0447 040 029

Media release

07 February 2023

The interest rate rise announced by the Reserve Bank today will put even more pressure on renters across NSW, said the Community Housing Industry Association NSW (CHIA NSW).

“Today’s announcement on interest rates will impact thousands of families renting in NSW who are already struggling to make ends meet and keep a roof over their head,” said Mark Degotardi, CEO of CHIA NSW and spokesperson for the Confront the Crisis campaign.

CHIA NSW said that landlords are often passing the interest rate rises on to renters, and that this combined with low vacancy rates and already high rental prices is forcing families to make impossible choices.

“The social housing waitlist in NSW increased by more than 7,000 families in the last year alone. Vacancy rates are at a record-low. So when families are told their rent is going up, they’re forced to choose between forking out more than they can afford to keep their home, or to face homelessness,” said Mr Degotardi.

“The fact is, we don’t have enough social and affordable housing in our state. We are in a crisis, and the interest rate rises are adding fuel to the fire,” Mr Degotardi said.

“Our leaders cannot continue to ignore the housing emergency. With the state election just around the corner, it’s time they stepped up and made clear commitments to confront the crisis.” Mr Degotardi said.

Media Contact: Tanya Evans, 0424 156 146