More than 700 people will have a safe and affordable home to live in with the restoration of 290 previously uninhabitable, vacant homes by the New South Wales Government, delivered with $25 million of Albanese Labor Government funding from the Social Housing Accelerator.
To date, the New South Wales Government has restored 277 homes, including 165 cottages, 30 townhouses, 7 villas and 75 units, with this Commonwealth funding. The 13 remaining homes will be restored by the end of June.
The $2 billion Social Housing Accelerator is one part of the Albanese Labor Government’s $32 billion Homes for Australia plan.
The Albanese Labor Government is working with states and territories like New South Wales to help meet our ambitious national target of building 1.2 million homes by the end of the decade.
Funding from the Social Housing Accelerator has been vital to the Albanese Labor Government and the Minns Labor Government’s shared goal to make more safe and secure homes available to New South Wales residents.
The Social Housing Accelerator has already provided $610 million to New South Wales to deliver around 1,500 homes.
With over 58,000 people on the social housing waitlist in New South Wales, the New South Wales Government expedited refurbishment works last year to help alleviate housing pressure, particularly in areas with high rates of homelessness like Sydney’s Inner West.
Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:
"I grew up in a social housing flat in Sydney. I understand the life changing power that a secure roof over your head can provide.
“That is why my Government is committed to delivering more homes, more quickly, in more parts of Australia.
“We have a lot of work to do to achieve our goal but we are committed to getting it done and today is another step forward.
“Our $2 billion Social Housing Accelerator will deliver around 4,000 new social homes across Australia.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Housing and Homelessness Julie Collins:
“Our Government’s $2 billion Social Housing Accelerator has already helped to give more New South Wales residents a safe and affordable place to call home.
“The New South Wales Government’s quick delivery of this funding is exactly why we committed to the Social Housing Accelerator.
“Through our Homes for Australia plan, the Albanese Labor Government has committed $32 billion in new housing initiatives to deliver more homes across the country.
“Our ambitious housing reform agenda is working across the board – with more help for homebuyers, more help for renters and more help for Australians needing a safe place for the night.”
Quotes attributable to NSW Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson:
“When this Government committed to stopping the sale of public housing, we meant it. That meant finding new ways to fund social housing repairs and maintenance.
“The social housing waitlist is growing, not shrinking, so it never made sense for the Government to decrease its stock to fund repairs. The only way to get people of the social housing waitlist is by getting them into safe and secure homes.
“The former Government’s model of selling off public housing to fund repairs was not sustainable and we’re proud to be working with the Federal Government to get more homes fixed up and liveable for people in need, without reducing the limited stock to do so.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Reid Sally Sitou:
“Our Government’s Social Housing Accelerator is helping to deliver a safe and affordable home to members of our local community.
“This is the best way we can address the housing challenges we face, which is a big priority for me as the local Federal Member.”