SOCIAL housing tenants and the community are invited to make submissions to a parliamentary inquiry about the efficacy, cost-effectiveness and management quality of social housing.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The inquiry wants assurance that optimal systems are in place for all stakeholders.
There are two pathways to social housing, according to community housing provider Homes North chief executive officer Maree McKenzie.
“The majority is direct government management by Housing NSW (about 122,000 properties), another (approximately 30,000 properties) are managed by registered community housing providers,” she said.
Inverell Community Housing merged with Homes North earlier this year to increase advantages and support for those accessing the service.
Ms McKenzie felt one reason community housing better served eligible residents was due to accessing Commonwealth Rent Assistance, which is not available to Housing NSW clients.
Additionally, she said while public housing has reduced their property list due to a backlog in maintenance, community housing has been expanding their portfolio to support regional social housing needs.
“Homes North is successfully doing this and has acquired 17 newly developed properties across the New England over the past two years, with minimal borrowings and careful management.
“Six more properties are currently on the drawing board,” Ms McKenzie said. “We also have great ideas for re-developing sites in partnership with private enterprise, other NGOs or government departments.”
She also pointed to a level of attention their model enabled, allowing short response to personal, social and mental welfare needs of tenants.
“I know this is an area where community housing makes a significant difference.
“We work directly with support services – such as disability, mental health and aged care providers – service to service.
“We can respond quickly to clients’ and support services’ needs, unlike the bureaucracy of government-delivered services.”
She stressed that local providers also support local contractors and avoid “private corporations creaming funds off the top and putting the squeeze on local contractors delivering maintenance on the ground”.
“Community housing providers respond to local communities and include the local community in our planning.
“This is very hard for a big state-based agency to achieve.”
Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall also encouraged local and interested community members to consider making a submission to the inquiry.
The closing date for submissions is Friday, August 8.
Further information about the inquiry can be obtained by visiting the committee’s website at: www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/publicaccounts.