Housing NSW
The challenge of under investment
Housing NSW faces considerable challenges in the provision and maintenance of social housing across the state. Due to an underinvestment in this sector over the past 16 years, Liberals & Nationals government is faced with $300 million backlog of maintenance works, and 46,000 people on the waiting list for housing.
Poor housing leads to disrupted childhoods. We need to ensure vulnerable people in our community have access to suitable housing to break the tragic cycle of disadvantage. The Government is committed to helping children them realise their potential and ensure they have a bright future ahead of them.
A safe and stable environment
The central objectives of this government’s social housing policy are to provide children with a stable home environment and also to ensure that victims of domestic violence can remain in their homes and are not subject to continuing threats.
To achieve this we must ensure that housing not only meets shelter needs but also is a gateway to accessing crucial services. This will support the social, education and economic participation of ALL Housing NSW residents.
Better integration of government services
Many people who live in social housing need access to several government services to ensure they are both safe and cared for. This can only be achieved through better integration and coordination of key government agencies. Housing NSW is now centrally administered through the Department of Family and Community Services. We will be working over the coming years to facilitate integration of key services across the department and to change the way we help those in need.
Our commitment
The first Liberals & Nationals budget has allocated more than $2 billion for the effective provision of social housing. I will be working closely with the Minister for Finance and Services, The Honourable Greg Pearce on important reforms in the sector. We must ensure that social housing in NSW is a sustainable and affordable housing system.
Management of the NSW Housing stock and coordination with social housing providers will facilitate better provision of housing services in the long term. It will also ensure that housing is provided to those most in need.
Throughout 2012 I will be travelling around the state to hear from Housing NSW frontline workers about their concerns and learn how we can improve our systems.