NESB Housing Taskforce NSW

NESB Housing Taskforce minutes

Wednesday 11 February 2009

Chairperson

Cheryl Webster

1. Appointment of a minute-taker

Lesly Zambrano: sgpmigrant @sgmrc.org.au

2. Attendance

Cheryl Webster
Larisa Asimus
Paula Rix
Lesly Zambrano-Moreno
Khaled Sabsabi
Yasmine Loupis
Izetor Zecevic
Justin Han
Christine Ratnasingham

Apologies

3. Review of notes from the last meeting

Approved: Cheryl Webster

Seconded: Lesly Zambrano-Moreno

4. Discussion items

4.1. Report about the new Commonwealth funding for social housing:

• The Federal government announced a housing stimulus package which is very positive because there will be a large amount of money devoted to create around 20,000 social housing dwellings in Australia. Shelter NSW said this initiative is what they have been asked for over a long period.
• A specified part of this money will go towards maintenance.
• Three documents were brought by Shelter (See attachments):

  Two media releases from David Borger, Minister for Housing announcing the funding and explaining how the money will be spent:

  http://www.housing.nsw.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/7F83C259-8035-4192-B8C3-A2D9C8FFEAA6/0/MediaReleasehousingstimulustodeliver32000jobs.pdf;
  http://www.housing.nsw.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/9BF08C16-8B90-416E-8D19-CC241FD696FC/0/socialhousingpackage.pdf.

  A summary written by an officer from Shelter NSW explaining in detail how the funds will be allocated.

   

4.2. Issues relating to the Department of Housing

• Refugees and humanitarian entrants experience housing issues such as long periods on the waiting list and lack of affordable housing when the only income they receive comes from Centrelink.
• Lack of maintenance when they have been able to get housing (e.g. a family of 7 members living in a two-bedroom house. Three of them have a disability – the husband and two children– and the place where they live needs urgent repairs that they can't afford to pay for and still are waiting an answer for from the D of H)
• Clients' applications for priority housing have not been accepted several times because D of H do not accept some documents or ask for new documents each time without clearly explaining what is needed. When workers have called on behalf of the clients they have experienced rudeness and lack of clarity from D of H's staff. Three organisations said they have the same issues, especially with the Parramatta D of H office.
• Each community housing service provider has different policies for priority housing which makes it difficult and confusing for clients.
• The waiting period for appeals are very long (14 weeks)

Action:

1. Department of Housing Parramatta’s Office: It was suggested to put the case in writing. It was suggested to use the reference number given by D of H instead of the names when talking about the cases. It was suggested that services could raise the issue with their local member of Parliament and with the Minister for Housing, David Borger This issue will also be raised in the meeting with D of H on February 26 by Cheryl and other members who will be attending.
2. Community Housing: It was suggested to invite a person from Community Housing (Federation) to a meeting for clarification of the different community housing policies regarding priority housing.
3. Members will document some issues/cases and will send them to Cheryl so she can raise them at the Department of Housing meeting.

4.3. Report from Shelter consultation and campaign development process

Paula provided a summary of the consultation (See attachment). It was well received and it was seen as a useful document to start moving forwards some of the suggestions provided by participants.

4.4 Developing a work plan or priorities for 2009

Anglicare said they will conduct research about housing needs. They asked members to bring issues that will be important to take into consideration in the research and provide their input. Lesley said that in the St George area they will conduct research, too. Paula suggested checking the survey with CALD communities done by Canterbury Bankstown. She will send a copy to members.

Plan:

• Invite a guest speaker for Community Housing Federation to clarify the procedure for priority community housing
• Advocate for funding for humanitarian entries for Housing Co-operatives. It was suggested to invite organisations with previous experience in this type of proposals for members to know more.

  May 20: Community Housing Federation

  August 12: Anglicare’s research/ Housing corporation.

  November 18: Open

5. Reports

6. Other business

• There is a new mentoring program for finding private housing run by Sydney Multicultural Community Services. It covers City Sydney and Eastern Suburbs. Contact Yasmine, 9663 3922

• Shelter NSW is running a seminar “Community Land Trusts” on March 25. Contact Louise Crabtree, 8833 5931.

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Updated 16-Apr-2009