The Community Housing Industry Association NSW has welcomed the Berejiklian Government’s announcement of $40 million in stimulus funding to upgrade social housing in the state.
The NSW Government announced 31 successful bids by Community Housing Providers (CHPs) to upgrade social housing, which it said would create jobs and help build safer and stronger communities.
Minister for Water, Property and Housing, Melinda Pavey said the $40 million program would deliver capital works for more than 2000 properties owned by the NSW Land and Housing Corporation and managed by CHPs.
Fifty-five per cent of the capital works improvements will be undertaken in regional locations.
“The program will support more than 350 jobs in NSW, with more than half of them in regional areas,” Mrs Pavey said.
“Regional NSW has also received over half of government stimulus grants over $1 million.”
Community Housing Industry Association NSW Chief Executive Officer Mark Degotardi said funding that supports the improvement of community housing was needed more than ever.
“These projects will have a direct, positive impact in the lives of NSW families by updating thousands of properties across NSW,” Mr Degotardi said.
“We congratulate the government and Minister Pavey for this much-needed investment.”
The $40 million stimulus injection forms part of the NSW Government’s record budget investment of almost $900 million to fast-track construction of thousands of new homes, while creating jobs and boosting the state’s economic recovery from COVID-19.
The funding will support: 330 bathroom replacements; 380 kitchen replacements; 290 roof replacements; 950 external painting jobs, and 230 window replacements.
Mrs Pavey said the funding would provide social housing tenants with a better quality of living and greater comfort and safety, while strengthening the NSW economy.
“Alongside CHPs, we’re improving the quality, comfort and safety of homes for thousands of vulnerable people and families throughout NSW,” Mrs Pavey said.
“This investment is also supporting the local businesses that are supplying workers with the tools, trades and building materials that will give these homes a fresh lick of paint, a new roof or gutter, and much-needed bathroom and kitchen replacements.”
Mr Degotardi commended the government for targeting housing maintenance in regional areas.
“The positive social impact of this funding is even stronger in regional areas, where housing is in critically short supply for low-income families,” he said.
He said that with more government funding for housing supply, the community housing sector could create even more homes, jobs and investment for regional NSW.
“More than 50,000 people are on the waiting list for social housing – community housing providers are ready to work with government to help thousands of families in housing stress,” Mr Degotardi said.
“We have already delivered $1.2 billion of new investment and 8000 jobs in the last decade alone.
“With further government investment, the community housing sector could begin to reduce the critical shortages of social and affordable housing across NSW.”
