Pacific Link Housing has ramped up calls for more affordable and key-worker housing following the recent release of the 2022 State of Affordable Housing on the Central Coast report.
Pacific Link Chairman Wal Edgell said there was an urgent need for rapid intervention.
“The deepening housing crisis on the Central Coast demands immediate action,” he said.
“Governments at all levels must improve their efforts significantly to meet the immediate demands and to establish long term, sustainable housing solutions for our community.”
The 2024 statement details a significant mismatch between the demand for affordable housing and the existing supply available for residents across the Coast falling into the affordable and key-worker income categories.
Edgell said the shortage, along with a long-standing undersupply of social housing in the area, had contributed to a 60 per cent rise in homelessness over the past year based on the NSW Government’s Statewide Street Count, providing further evidence of a housing market in crisis.
Group CEO Ian Lynch said Pacific Link Housing was acutely aware of the increasing hardships faced by individuals and families.
“Our updated report not only reflects on the progress made but also reiterates our call to action for increased funding and streamlined approval processes for social and affordable housing projects specifically,” he said.
A new statement from Pacific Link proposes six strategic actions targeted at national, state and local levels to mitigate the housing crisis effectively.
It calls for increased collaboration and expedited measures to ensure that more affordable housing can be delivered swiftly and efficiently.
Local leaders and stakeholders including Regional Development Australia Central Coast, Business NSW Central Coast, Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council, the University of Newcastle, UDIA Central Coast, Central Coast Council and the Central Coast Local Health District have supported the proposal.
Pacific Link says that while some limited progress has been made since 2022, with funding beginning to flow and policy reform happening at all levels of government, greater urgency and efficiency, along with reduced red tape in the delivery of affordable housing is required.
The Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) has backed the call for more affordable housing.
“UDIA led industry advocacy to the incoming NSW Government for the introduction of an infill affordable housing incentive which led to the announcement of the changes to the Housing SEPP to provide a 30 per cent increase in density in return for the provision of affordable housing,” a spokesperson said.
“Through UDIA’s Urban Renewal Committee, opportunities are being explored for partnership with the Community Housing sector to increase private developer awareness and uptake of affordable housing incentives being offered in NSW.
“The Housing SEPP is starting to bear fruit, with several examples of UDIA developer members partnering with UDIA CHP members across NSW to give more residents access to secure and stable homes.
“The UDIA Central Coast Committee aims to promote and facilitate partnerships between members to deliver more opportunities for affordable housing on the Central Coast.”