Page 4379 - Week 10 - Thursday, 22 September 2011
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Through the coordinated effort across government to deliver in both phases of the affordable housing action plan, the government has committed to housing reform and a fairer and more responsive housing system. The ACT is now well ahead of the national reform agenda.
Under the nation building and jobs plan economic stimulus package, we have built an additional 421 social housing properties. Approximately one-third of these properties will be transferred to community housing providers to manage. These homes have significantly increased the supply of affordable housing in the ACT.
Public housing is a major provider of affordable housing in the ACT. Along with community housing providers, a rental subsidy is made available to eligible tenants. This means that tenants pay no more than 25 per cent of their combined household income on their rent payments. The average rental subsidy per week in the ACT is $242. This compares to a maximum subsidy for private sector households under the commonwealth rent assistance scheme of $70 for singles with one or two children.
According to the affordable housing action plan phase II of August 2009, there is a recognised housing shortage for older Canberrans. In December last year this government agreed to a range of measures designed to increase affordable housing options for older people. A key element of this agreement is to develop sites as mixed communities that will have public housing tenants, private tenants and private owners. Therefore a proportion of these properties will provide affordable rental housing and affordable “sale” through a licence-lease arrangement. This will allow older people to “own” their own homes through a licensing agreement under an “affordable homeownership” agreement.
The proposed criteria are designed to ensure that people over 65 who are facing housing affordability issues have the opportunity to move into housing that better suits their needs and that is affordable, without providing concessions to those who can afford to purchase in the private market. The homes will have a range of features that are designed to reduce the running costs of appliances and that are energy efficient and low maintenance.
It is worth noting that this government is committed to supporting social housing, but it is something that we have to factor in across our budgets. It is also around how we support those tenants that are in our housing. Many people in the ACT fall outside the income eligibility for public housing. The affordable rental scheme is designed to provide an affordable housing option for people who would otherwise be in housing stress renting in the private market. Homes will be made available at a concessional rent so that tenants will pay no more than 75 per cent of the market rent. The homes will be energy efficient, will be C-class adaptable and will incorporate water saving and energy efficiency measures. This in turn will lower the day-to-day household running costs.
This government also provides significant emergency financial and material aid assistance. The government provides this through our community sector partners—St Vincent de Paul, the Salvation Army and UnitingCare Kippax. The funding directly
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video