Making Progress: Victoria’s Big Build Passes Halfway Mark

The Victorian government is making progress on a $63 million social housing project just as getting a home officially becomes harder than ever. The 130-home Heidelberg West development is a mix of social and affordable housing to replace 60 homes no longer fit for purpose.

Despite these efforts in Victoria, and across the country, getting a rental or buying a new home is increasingly difficult. New research from AHURI revealed homeownership for people born in the late 1980s was significantly less than for first homebuyers born in previous decades.

Click here to view original web page at www.theurbandeveloper.com

Research: the brutal reality of Australia’s housing crisis and what it means for women

Two thirds of Australians are experiencing housing stress, facing “uncertainty, anxiety and hardship” amid the country’s ongoing housing crisis.

The national housing campaign Everybody’s Home released a new report on July 24, detailing the “brutal reality” of social housing shortages, increased living costs and the impact of domestic violence on women and their search for safe and affordable housing.

After surveying almost 750 people, the report found 67 per cent of respondents are currently experiencing housing stress.

Click here to view original web page at womensagenda.com.au

Does building more luxury housing drive other rents up or down?

As Massachusetts tries to incentivize more housing construction, there are questions about who it should be for. Surging housing prices in Massachusetts are displacing families from their homes, some from the state as a whole.

Some activists argue the state’s most immediate need is homes for lower-income residents. Other advocates and experts counter that increasing the supply of market-rate housing, which comes with a higher price tag, could create a trickle-down effect that helps reduce costs for all residents.

Click here to view original web page at www.wgbh.org

‘Do better’ on affordable housing, NSW government urged, as development exposes low commitment

'Do better' on affordable housing, NSW government urged, as Appin development exposes low commitment

Almost 13,000 homes have been promised in one of NSW’s largest new housing developments. The NSW government is being urged to ‘do better’ by increasing the number of affordable homes in one of the state’s biggest development projects on the outskirts of south-western Sydney.

Of the 13,000 new homes promised at Appin, only 187 are required to be affordable housing. An advocacy group says the development’s 5 per cent affordable housing target is “extremely disappointing”. Additional social and affordable housing may be secured during future State Planning Agreement negotiations.

Click here to view original web page at www.abc.net.au

With a climate crisis and a housing crisis, why is Minneapolis regulating building material aesthetics?

A parade of building contractors and material suppliers formed at the podium during last week’s meeting of the Minneapolis Planning Commission. Without exception, they expressed their displeasure at the city’s proposed regulations of building materials. There was specific disgruntlement about restrictions on exterior insulation finishing systems, commonly called EIFS (pronounced “eefs”), aka “synthetic stucco” made of materials like foam. Instead, city policies favor traditional materials like wood, brick, and glass.

The regulations clash with two urgent crises facing Minneapolis around housing: building in walkable, transit-friendly areas to address climate change, and reducing the ongoing housing shortage with new supply. In light of these problems, Minneapolis should be on an emergency footing.

Click here to view original web page at www.minnpost.com

Useful contacts over the Christmas period 2022 – 2023

The Central Interagency Network have compiled a useful list of contacts for those experiencing housing stress in the Brisbane region over the 2022 – 2023 holiday period.

Mission Australia releases its ‘Older Women’s Pathways out of Homelessness’ report

Last week, Mission Australia released its Older Women’s Pathways out of Homelessness report.

This report shares the pathways out of homelessness for older women living in Brisbane – highlighting their devastating loss, loneliness and frustration, but also what and who helped them. The women drawing on this experience, together with homelessness service providers, describe an ideal service and the practice approaches necessary to care for and support older women who end up homeless.

Click here to access the report.

Shared Equity Schemes for Older Women in Queensland – Gold Star Project

The Gold Star Project is aimed at stimulating the development of innovative financial products that would enable people of limited means to achieve housing security through building equity in their home. The focus is on shared equity products that can be accessed by women who are unable to access commercially provided standard home loans. The cohort of particular concern is women over 55 years living in Queensland given the rising numbers experiencing financial stress and at risk of homelessness. The economics of housing for single older women are particularly challenging, for reasons outlined below, so inclusion of other cohorts may have to be considered to improve scheme viability.

Housing policy is enhanced through the recognition of the importance of housing for human welfare and the severe detrimental effects of homelessness. The benefits of housing go well beyond physical shelter – the Australian Centre for Social Impact has distilled the three critical functions of home as acquiring agency, connection with others and expression of identity.1

The gulf between renting and home ownership is enormous and the number and diversity of people occupying this space are growing. Beyond the current focus in the policy debate on supply and affordability of housing, greater diversity of options is needed when it comes to buildings, financing, tenure and ownership types to reflect the diversity of the population. Innovation is needed that places people rather than buildings at the heart of the process to provide greater diversity of options. Shared equity has an important role to play in enabling innovation, allowing people to move from insecure rental to homeownership, and unlocking the benefits of secure housing for a diverse group.

QLD housing forum addressing barriers for people with disability

A Queensland Disability & Housing Forum commenced this week, delivering a series of online and in-person sessions and workshops around the State, aimed at addressing housing barriers for people with disability.

The Queensland forum is part of a national series of events being held around the country. Accessing housing for people with disability is harder than it should be, but a range of solutions are available to benefit all members of the community.

“For people with disability, finding housing that is suitable and enables them to set up a stable home in an area and community of their choice is very challenging, on top of the shortage of housing and the current affordability crisis that impacts on everyone,” said Michael Bleasdale, Executive Officer of Rights & Inclusion Australia (R&IA).

R&IA is a national organisation of and for people with disability which is hosting the Queensland forum, in partnership with Q Shelter, from 26 July to 4 August.

Coming events as part of the forum include:

Queensland – Online sessions

Friday 29 July, 11:00 – 12:30pm: National Disability Insurance Scheme – Home & Living Supports. Register here

– Queensland – Face-to-face ‘Opening the Door’ Housing Workshops

Tuesday 2 August, 10:00am – 2:00pm: Brisbane.

Venue: Wesley House, 140 Ann Street, Brisbane (Burnett Room)

Thursday 4 August, 10:00am – 2:00pm: Cairns..

Cairns Regional Council, 119-145 Spence Street, Cairns (Civic Rooms)

Q Shelter Executive Director, Fiona Caniglia, said that Queensland was working hard to ensure that new homes built for social and affordable housing include accessible features and design. The major issue impacting access to housing for people living with disability in Queensland is a lack of affordable housing options.

“The housing crisis puts pressure on all people seeking a home, particularly on those with disability who face even greater challenges finding suitable accommodation to meet their needs,” Ms Caniglia said.

“Finding a home where people have access to amenities and transport, be able to make home modifications, and support their established connections to communities are made more difficult when supply is low, and the demand and cost for homes are high.”

Q Shelter continues to advocate for more affordable and sustainable housing options for all Queenslanders.

It is important for people to understand their housing options and progress the housing option that is right for them.

Forum event registrations are still open to people with disability, and families, and others from the community. Details can be found at https://riaustralia.org/opening-the-door-project/.

For further information please contact:

Michael Bleasdale, R&IA 0499 900 006

Michelle Saftich, Q Shelter Media contact, 0407 074 645