Shelter NSW has said that the State Plan released today has identified housing affordability as a priority, but is disappointed that targets to address this matter were only about land releases in outer zones of the metropolitan area.
Mr Chris Martin, Chairperson of Shelter NSW, said that housing unaffordability was a major problem for low-moderate income earners in New South Wales, with over a quarter of a million (265,000) households in housing stress according to Department of Housing data. Those households included private renters and mortgagees.
'The Government's own Sydney metropolitan strategy, City of cities, said that ".the supply of land is not the main cause of the decrease in affordability nor will the supply of housing on the fringe meet the needs of first home buyers or those on lower incomes".
Shelter called on the Government to introduce a set of housing assistance measures to make a difference for the working poor and forgotten people who do not enjoy the benefits of home ownership and high prices.
Mr Martin said the government should:
Mr Martin also called on the Government to provide better coordination of programs to homeless people across the state. Organizations representing homelessness services had hoped that the State Plan would contain a plan for better coordination and focusing of those programs, and were disappointed that it did not include new commitments to alleviate homelessness.
Contact:
Chris Martin, Chairperson – 0407 065 760 (m)
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