Social and affordable housing seed money available

The NSW Government has officially opened Expressions of Interest for the second phase of its Social and Affordable Housing Fund (SAHF), and Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Scot MacDonald MLC, has called on nongovernment organisations, landholders and the private sector to tap into the new fund.

The SAHF was set up with more than $1b in seed capital, and the second phase of the fund demonstrates the commitment to investing in more social and affordable housing, Mr MacDonald said. Proponents will be asked to put forward proposals that provide tailored support that will improve employment and education prospects for tenants and their households. Proposals will also be required to provide stability and support for vulnerable people of NSW, with a particular focus on supporting women aged 55 and over. NSW Family and Community Services Minister, Ms Pru Goward, said: “This year, hundreds of homes are going up in cities, regions and rural areas of NSW, funded under the SAHF. “Together, with our Communities Plus program, the commencement of Phase 2 will ensure this pipeline of more houses in more locations continues for years to come.” Mr MacDonald welcomed the news, demonstrating the government’s commitment to providing more social and affordable housing to the vulnerable. “I’d love to see organisations on the Central Coast look to build consortia and participate in providing housing and supports as part of SAHF 2,” he said. Source: Media release, Feb 9 Kit Hale, office of Scot MacDonald