NESB Housing Taskforce NSW

NESB Housing Taskforce minutes

Wednesday 7 June 2006

Attendance

Maureen Kingshott; Susan Lagura; George Ayoub; Mary Perkins; Cheryl Webster

Apologies

Carmen (Tenants Union); Annie Harvey; Jasmina; Nicole Schlederer.

Update on latest changes

Discussion ensued regarding the proposed changes to Department of Housing (DoH) programs (‘Reshaping Public Housing’) and issues to be canvassed in submissions. The following issues were considered important:

• New eligibility criteria and the impact on large families;
• Eligibility income levels and what these will be;
• Cut off point for family tax benefit and what this will be – this may affect families already struggling;
• African families already face discrimination in the private housing market;
• The need for stability for children – if families are asked to move on when a child is 10 this can be extremely disruptive – transition into high school is important and stability in school is not just the first years of schooling but also high school;
• Social development of families – many families who settle into DoH housing develop a community around them and this support is really important to them, particularly after acclimatizing into an area.

Next DoH consultation

The following items were considered important to be included for the next DoH consultation:

• ‘Reshaping Public Housing’ – including Automated assessment process;
• What is being done to inform small and emerging communities of the changes;
• Mary documented other items .

Action: Mary to liaise with Blanca re agenda.

Liaison between the NESB Housing Taskforce and other groups

It was suggested that a mini-workshop be conducted which would build up new contacts and move to a quarterly workshop and it was suggested that Mary attend the SCC meeting on 23 August to talk about housing issues and the Taskforce. Action: Cheryl to organize.

It was agreed to conduct a workshop on 9 August in Granville on tenancy issues, community housing and public housing.

Action: Cheryl to organize Mary/Maureen to be invited to next SCC quarterly meeting; Cheryl to organize venue for workshop; Mary to organize agenda and speakers for workshop; Cheryl to send Mary email list from SCC Coalition.

Next meeting

To be held on 6 July at 3pm at Shelter to discuss final arrangements for above workshop.

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Updated 15-Aug-2006