A further 3500 affordable rental homes are needed just in the Illawarra to address the rental housing crisis.
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So says Housing Trust CEO Michele Adair, who is urging the federal government to spend big in Tuesday's budget to address the crisis.
"We need to see billions of dollars of either capital by way of cash or by way of land provision to be able to make direct investments to build more social housing and to support the construction of affordable rental housing," Ms Adair said.
"And, within that context we need to see a recognition from all levels of government that they understand the crisis in our housing industry is in the lack of affordable rental housing.
"The benefit of this investment will not just create jobs and stimulate the economy but make intergenerational improvements to support women and children fleeing domestic violence, to be able to support educational participation, recovery from mental illness and the like."
Ms Adair said the Housing Trust, the Illawarra's largest provider of affordable rental housing, welcomed the release of the state's first Housing Strategy.
But she argued "without this level of budget support needed the Strategy and Action Plan will be meaningless".
Housing 2041 outlines a vision and goals for housing over the next 20 years, and was accompanied by a two-year Action Plan.
"It creates good principles however the plan lacks practical detail and lacks targets, both of which are essential if we are going to be able to make a difference," Ms Adair said.
"We need the government here in NSW to specifically and practically speak in terms of what are the plans, and how can we all work together to build at least 5000 additional social housing properties each year for the next 10 years.
We need another 3500 affordable rental homes for people on low incomes just in the Illawarra and 50,000 across the state.
- Housing Trust CEO Michele Adair
"By supporting tenants and increasing the amount of affordable rental housing that's available, the government can begin to address years of misguided policy and a lack of investment.
"We need another 3500 affordable rental homes for people on low incomes just in the Illawarra and 50,000 across the state."
She said immediate decisions in relation to tax savings for private developers and reduction or elimination of fees were needed.
"This is so they can afford to build affordable rental properties and we need a minimum of what is called inclusionary zoning, of at least 20 per cent - so that would mean every medium to high density development across the state has a minimum requirement of 20 per cent affordable rental housing.
"That should be managed by a not-for-profit organisation to make sure there is no ongoing price gouging from the private market."
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