Member for Robertson Gordon Reid is urging the State Government to ensure the Central Coast receives its fair share of $610M in funding for social housing.
The NSW Government is set to receive the money from the Federal Government through the $2B Social Housing Accelerator Fund Payment to help it deliver thousands of new social homes across the state.
All states and territories will have flexibility in how they permanently boost social housing stock, including through new builds, expanding existing programs, renovating, or refurbishing existing but currently uninhabitable housing stock.
Reid has urged the NSW State Government to not overlook the Central Coast region.
“On the Central Coast, we are experiencing high demand for rental properties, where supply is not keeping pace,” he said.
“This is putting upward pressure on rental prices and creating challenging conditions for young and vulnerable people accessing the housing market.
“The region is also suffering from an acute shortage of housing, including homes, townhouses, and apartments.
“I have written to NSW Housing Minister Rose Jackson to urge her not to overlook the region when it comes to distributing these funds across NSW.”
Reid said he would continue to keep the community updated on the outcome.
“According to data from the Department of Families and Community Services, the Central Coast has 1500 people on the waitlist, with an average wait time of 10 years to get a social housing property,” he said.
Reid said the Housing Australia Future Fund has been established by the Federal Government to address the housing crisis.
“Disappointingly, the Liberals and The Greens have formed a coalition to stall the legislation’s passage through the Senate,” he said.
“(They) are choosing to play political shenanigans rather than assist the Federal Government provide solutions for the nation’s housing crisis.”
Reid is encouraging Central Coast residents to contact Liberal and Greens’ Members of State and Federal Parliaments to tell them to stop blocking progress and has established an online petition.
It can be accessed at https://www.drgordonreidmp.com.au/our-coast-community/housing-for-the-central-coast-petition/
or more information about the Federal Government’s Housing Australia Future Fund visit: https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/julie-collins-2022/media-releases/housing-australia-future-fund-draft-legislation
Source:
Member for Robertson Gordon Reid