Housing affordability looms as a major election issue

With almost 3,000 people on the waiting list for public housing on the Central Coast, local community housing provider Compass Housing is calling on more Federal Government support for the sector.

Latest figures reveal that 1,308 people are on the waiting list in Gosford (72 of them classed as priority) and 1,670 are waiting at Wyong (89 of them priority).

These numbers are likely to increase as a result of the recent flooding across eastern NSW, with estimates of over 10,000 houses damaged by the floods, of which more than half are thought to be uninhabitable.

Compass Housing says opinion polls conducted in four battleground federal seats show there is greater voter recognition of the housing crisis and clear support for more Government attention on housing, including funding the construction of social housing.

While the poll was not conducted on the Central Coast, Compass Housing’s strategic engagement officer and its representative with Everybody’s Home, Professor David Adamson, says the results are indicative of nationwide sentiment.

The national Everybody’s Home campaign to end homelessness commissioned the poll in early February in the seats of Bass (Tasmania), Gilmore (NSW), Flinders (Victoria) and Longman (Queensland).

Between 630 and 965 respondents in each electorate gave their views on housing affordability and policy solutions.

Adamson said a majority believed the Federal Government has failed to confront the housing rental crisis.

They want greater investment in social and affordable housing, and are sceptical that first home-owner grants can fix the problem.

He said surging rental prices are swallowing an ever larger chunk of people’s wages, the findings consistent with earlier research by Compass showing renters on average incomes frequently struggle to afford average rents.

“People in the areas where Compass operates (including the Central Coast) are also saying that housing is a crucial issue and the government is not doing enough to fix the problem,” Adamson said.

“Fixing the housing and rental affordability crisis is beyond any state government.

“We need a national plan, developed in conjunction with the states, that contains evidence-based solutions rather than piecemeal initiatives which end up pushing up house prices and rents.”

National spokesperson for Everybody’s Home, Kate Colvin, said politicians who propose solutions that work, such as more social and affordable housing, will successfully connect with voters

“Voters are rejecting band-aid solutions like first home-owner grants because they know we need to give renters on low and modest incomes the stability of a secure home,” Colvin said.

“Rents have surged while incomes have barely budged (and) people on modest incomes now have to fight tooth and nail to get a home and maintain it.

“It shouldn’t be this difficult to keep a roof over your head in a wealthy country like Australia.”

Terry Collins