NSW Community Housing Conference 2010 The role the

NSW Community Housing Conference 2010 The role the community housing sector can play in delivering an essential service Mike Allen, Chief Executive, Housing NSW

Place image in this space Housing as an essential service? n Housing and social inclusion n Supports population growth through housing supply n Promotes social and environmental sustainability n Economic benefits, including supporting the economic participation of tenants n Impact on non-shelter outcomes n Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative n Education e. g. Youth Scholarships n Recidivism n Health

Place image in this space Supporting population growth n Urban consolidation to respond to increasing population e. g. NBESP, Affordable Housing SEPP n The sustainable development of cities e. g. Metropolitan Strategy n Investment in regional centres (e. g. sub regional plans)

Place image in this space Social sustainability n Higher density housing for social stability? n Greater access to services n Well located – proximity to transport, employment n Social mix through inclusion of affordable or social housing in private developments

Place image in this space Environmental sustainability n Housing that promotes environmental sustainability n Infill housing for reinvestment in inner city neighbourhoods n Reduced energy and water consumption for low income households n Ecological performance e. g. Green Street Program n Sustainable housing e. g. reduced CO 2 emissions, designed out maintenance

Place image in this space Economic benefits n Housing investment generates employment n Multiplier effect on the economy n Secure housing can enhance economic participation of tenants n Housing as wealth generation for individual households n Tax inflows to Government n Cost savings to Government through non shelter outcomes e. g. reduced crime

Place image in this space Challenges n Supply and affordability challenges n Interconnected issues e. g. n Social inclusion and geographic location (housing that is too dense may negate the benefits and a sense of ‘community’ may be difficult to foster e. g. estates) n Housing supply and increased tax receipts versus housing affordability n Seize current opportunities n What will our legacy be?

Place image in this space Declining vacancy rates

Place image in this space House prices and household income

Place image in this space Unequal distribution of the problem n Across income levels n Poor are worst affected n In spatial terms n Metropolitan suburbs are worst affected n By tenure n Low income private renters worst affected

Place image in this space Tenure impacts Source: Yates & Milligan et al, Housing Affordability: a 21 st Century problem (AHURI 2007)

Place image in this space Consequences n Increasing ghettoization n Isolated, poorly serviced concentrations of disadvantage n A divided society – threatens social cohesion, undermines democracy

Place image in this space n n Role of social housing 5% of the system Safety net Affected by problems in the broader housing system But can still make a significant contribution, e. g. n Enhanced access to housing for those discriminated against in the private market n Supporting key workers to live near where they work n Generating employment through new build and maintenance programs n Setting industry standards e. g. design, building quality, adaptable housing n Security of tenure for some of the most vulnerable people in society n Addressing homelessness

Place image in this space Current priorities n Increase housing supply n e. g. NBESP, Social Housing Growth Fund

Place image in this space Current priorities continued n Reduce homelessness n House more Indigenous people n Reduce spatial inequality through estate regeneration n Align estate renewal and urban renewal n Diversify service provision

Place image in this space The way forward n Collaboration across government and the private sector n Aligning housing with broader policy settings v. Planning v. Education v. Immigration v. Social inclusion

Place image in this space The way forward – a role for community housing n Delivering cost effective not-for-profit housing n Building on local networks and being innovators e. g. Project 40 n Strengthening and developing communities n Flexibility to be nimble and respond to different housing needs n Leveraging in private and other forms of investment to deliver more housing n Supporting improved social mix on large scale estate renewal projects n Helping to promote community housing n Responding to future growth opportunities from Housing NSW e. g. property transfers

Place image in this space Conclusions n Burning reasons for change. n Invest in housing to build social inclusion. n Makes good economic sense. n A nuanced approach across income levels and the life cycle. n The future is now - working together to implement change