A unique partnership between Homes NSW and Hume Housing is expected to benefit the town of Raymond Terrace.
The deal will enable 13 new dwellings to be built in the area through a land deal and funding from the Australian Government’s Social and Affordable Accelerator Fund (SHAF).
As part of the innovative arrangement, Homes NSW’s expected to contribute property where three ageing premises currently sit.
Hume Housing will manage the project, transforming the site into six two-bedroom social homes and seven affordable townhouses.
“This shows what can be achieved when all levels of government work together, alongside our community housing partners, to deliver more homes for local families,” Port Stephens MP Kate Washington said.
“This desperately-needed project will be the biggest investment in social housing in Port Stephens for more than a decade.”
It’s a fact not lost on Paterson MP Meryl Swanson.
“It is a great initiative and worthy project for our region,” she said.
“And, it’s certainly a step toward addressing the housing crisis for people in need.”
The partnership was made possible through the Community Housing Providers (CHP) Direct Dealing Policy, which provides CHP opportunities to partner with Homes NSW in delivering more, better quality, fit-for-purpose and modern homes.
The Raymond Terrace project is the first to start under the strategy, with Hume Housing receiving a $1.5 million grant from the SHAF to support its delivery.
“This collaboration marks a significant milestone in addressing housing needs in the Hunter,” Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said.
“This project alone is growing the supply of homes in Raymond Terrace with the number of households who will benefit with a new place to call home increasing from three to 13.
“By working together with Hume Housing, we are not only revitalising the community of Raymond Terrace but also setting a precedent for innovative housing solutions.”
The initiative is supported by Port Stephens Council’s Raymond Terrace Masterplan, which brings together state and local government and the Community Housing Sector in addressing the crisis through the delivery of greater housing diversity and affordability in regional NSW.
Hume Housing worked closely with council on its Development Application (DA), which was lodged last week.
“We’re excited to be liaising alongside Minister Jackson and Homes NSW on developing innovative models for building strong communities and delivering more high-quality affordable and social housing in the Hunter,” chief executive officer Brad Braithwaite said.
“Although Hume is a non-profit community housing provider, we are investing in this pilot using our cherished reserves.
“We see it as a model with great potential for providing more significant and diverse housing solutions at scale for this region in the future.
“This is a relatively small pilot project.
“But, we are very hopeful that from little things big things grow.
“This collaboration demonstrates the impact of councils, state government and community housing providers working together to tackle the housing crisis.”
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