Families in the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury regions have been left behind by the Morrison Government’s refusal to invest more in social housing.
The area has a shortage of social housing dwellings and homes that need repair and maintenance. That mean families, single parents, older women, and women and children fleeing domestic violence all have nowhere to go with waiting lists so long.
Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Jason Clare, and Federal Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman, met with representatives from provider Wentworth Community Housing in Lapstone on Friday, October 2 to discuss the need for more social and affordable housing in the area.
For months Labor has been calling on the Morrison Government to invest more in the repair and maintenance of the social housing.
“There are about 400 people currently experiencing homelessness and a shortage of 3,300 social housing properties across the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury,” Ms Templeman said.
“An entire generation is being priced out of the home ownership market, and with the COVID pandemic we are feeling the effects of the worst recession in our lifetimes.
“That’s all combining to create more renters looking at unaffordable properties.
“Investing more in maintaining the current supply of affordable housing as well as the construction of more homes would not only put a roof over the heads of the most vulnerable, but would ensure our local tradies have ongoing work.
“That in turn keeps our economy going and means more jobs for local people.
“Building more social housing is a win-win.”
Mr Clare said the major investment Labor made in social housing during the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) helped save jobs and kept the economy out of recession.
“Labor has been calling on the Morrison Government for months to put together a comprehensive housing stimulus plan, including fixing current government housing stock, ” Mr Clare said.
“But we’re not the only ones. The Housing Industry Association, the Master Builders Australia and by the Property Council have all called for government to invest in social housing.”
“This week’s Budget is the chance for the government to act in areas like the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury where there is a desperate need.”
Wentworth Community Housing’s Chief Executive Officer Stephen McIntyre said maintenance upgrades to existing homes and construction of new social housing could both be undertaken quickly and efficiently by the community housing sector, with positive economic benefits for local communities.
“We know from our work in the region that secure, appropriate and affordable housing can turn lives around. Wentworth is committed to working with all levels of government to increase the supply of social and affordable housing in the region and support disadvantaged people in the community. We have a moral responsibility to ensure that everyone has a home,” Mr McIntyre said.
