A Newcastle-based not-for-profit community accommodation provider is urging residents to sign a petition to fix the current “housing crisis” in the state.
Home in Place, which manages more than 7,000 social, affordable and disability properties in NSW – including the Central Coast, Cessnock, East Maitland, Newcastle and Upper Hunter – as well as Queensland and Victoria, has called on local MPs and political parties to make a real, long-term, investment to combat the increasing concerns in the sector.
But, it needs your help.
The petition is part of the Confront the Crisis campaign organised by the Community Housing Industry Association NSW ahead of the upcoming state election.
Presently, in the Hunter region, rental vacancy rates sit at 1%, with 4,500 people on the social housing waiting list.
On the Central Coast, the figures are 1.2% and 3,301 respectively.
“With rents continuing to rise, more people than ever are struggling to keep a roof over their heads,” Home in Place manager of business and public affairs Martin Kennedy said.
“Those most affected include pensioners, young people, people with a disability, women and children escaping domestic violence but also workers who keep our communities running – teachers, nurses, aged care personnel and cleaners.
“The rental market is broken, with supply falling well short of housing demand.
“Vacancy rates have plummeted across the state – in many areas, rental housing isn’t just unaffordable, it’s unavailable.
“There are already 50,000 families and individuals on the NSW social housing waitlist with waiting times as high as 10 years in some areas.
“Whoever governs NSW after March must have a plan to confront this crisis.
“Or, sadly, more people will be forced to join the list and either live with family, friends, couch surf – or worse, live in tents or their cars.”
People can find out more about the campaign, and sign the petition, at www.confrontthecrisis.com
For more news stories:
- $10m to restore Walka Water Works to its former glory
- Driver dies following single-vehicle crash at Morisset
- NSW Maritime revved up about jetski safety at Lake Mac
Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, real estate, entertainment, lifestyle and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
