The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) wants the government to increase the national housing stock by 25,000 homes per year, and build at least 425 new social housing dwellings per year in Canberra.
“Housing is one of the main issues that drives inequality, poverty, and poor well-being and health outcomes for the people we represent,” Dr Emma Campbell, ACTCOSS CEO, said at the organisation’s recent forum for Federal candidates. “Our staff can’t even afford to live in housing in the ACT without being in income stress.”
An Anglicare report published that day revealed that many vulnerable Canberrans were forced to rely on government support to house themselves and their families, and the rental market was out of reach for many.
David Pocock, Independent Senate candidate, believes addressing the chronic and worsening shortfall of social and affordable housing is critically important. Research by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute for ACT Shelter puts this at 3,000 homes and growing.
“Housing is a burning issue, and at every level now, it’s touching people,” Mr Pocock said. “This is a crisis. Finally, we’re hearing some talk – but it’s going to take a real concerted effort and the government putting our money where their mouth is on this issue to get good outcomes for our community.”
Mr Pocock outlined a series of measures to deal with the crisis. At a federal level: elevating the Housing Minister to Cabinet; a “desperately needed” National Housing Strategy focusing on measures to systematically increase the ongoing supply of social and affordable housing; more transparent data on housing supply and demand; reviewing the Commonwealth Rental Assistance rate; setting up a sovereign wealth fund to invest in social housing.
Locally: backing initiatives like Homeground that offer below-market private rentals; incentivizing private landlords to provide more affordable rentals in the Canberra market; and building more rental properties.
Labor has committed $10 billion to build 30,000 homes – 20,000 social housing properties and 10,000 affordable homes for frontline workers – over the next five years.
The Greens plan to build 1 million new homes over 20 years, which they say will make housing more affordable and end homelessness.
Kim Rubenstein, Independent Senate candidate, also supports building more social housing.
Read more:
- Federal candidates address social priorities at ACTCOSS forum
- Candidates respond to ACTCOSS call to increase income support
- ACTCOSS wants more funding for community services
- ACTCOSS calls for fair, fast, inclusive climate action
- ACTCOSS wants justice for First Nations people
- ACTCOSS calls for more taxes on wealthy
