Thousands of new jobs and social housing properties will be created through the Perrottet Government’s economic recovery strategy with an additional $183 million dedicated to fast-track more than 1,400 new homes.
Treasurer Matt Kean said the investment will provide vital new homes for the State’s most vulnerable and create 1,100 direct and indirect jobs in the construction phase.
“The package boosts construction, accelerates over 1,400 new social and affordable homes and supports an extra 990 households through rent assistance, including in areas that have been hit hardest by the pandemic in Sydney’s west and regional communities,” Mr Kean said.
The package is part of the Government’s COVID-19 economic recovery strategy and includes:
- $50 million to accelerate the delivery of around 2,800 homes, including around 1,000 social homes, to be built in Western Sydney, Wagga Wagga and Coffs Harbour through Communities Plus projects, in partnership with the private sector and CHPs;
- $50 million for the delivery of around 290 new social houses in partnership with community housing providers (CHPs) through the Community Housing Innovation Fund (CHIF);
- $30 million for about 80 new small scale social housing, primarily in Western Sydney and regional NSW;
- $20 million for new and upgraded social and affordable homes in partnership with Aboriginal CHPs through the Aboriginal Community Housing Investment Fund;
- $20 million for about 45 new homes for large Aboriginal families to support kinship living and reduce overcrowding, aligned with Closing the Gap targets so more families live in the right size homes;
- $10 million for additional Rent Choice packages to support 990 households to secure or maintain housing in the private rental market; and
- $3 million to support around 130 additional vulnerable Aboriginal families through the Services Our Way program.
Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey, said the package builds on the $812 million COVID-19 social housing stimulus package announced in the 2020‑21 Budget, which is expected to deliver over 800 new social homes and upgrades to around 16,500 existing properties.
“This package will support the people of NSW through jobs for the construction industry, whilst continuing to tackle hard issues like homelessness, housing affordability and providing opportunities for home ownership,” Mrs Pavey said.
“Projects in Western Sydney, Coffs Harbour and Wagga Wagga will be accelerated, by forward funding homes for tenants to relocate into, and local businesses will be used for these local projects.
“The investment unlocks a number of projects and accelerates our capacity to deliver the right homes, in the right areas for the people who need it most.”
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Alister Henskens said by partnering with CHPs, the NSW Government is significantly increasing the supply of social and affordable housing.
“The CHIF is unlocking exciting and innovative development opportunities which aim to address homelessness and support people who need it most,” Mr Henskens said.
“Part of this package includes additional investment in rent assistance programs which will bolster support to help vulnerable people secure or maintain housing in the private rental market.
“This package builds on the enormous work we’ve done to prevent and respond to homelessness throughout the pandemic, and will provide a robust pipeline of new housing to support vulnerable people for years to come.”