NSW Essential Housing Package to start the rebuild of broken housing system

Saturday, 16 September 2023

The 2023-24 Budget begins the long-term work of rebuilding our social and affordable housing system, through a $224 million Essential Housing Package.

Over the next 12 months, the initial investment will begin to address the historic neglect of new social housing supply and trial innovative solutions to get people off the social housing waitlist.

The face of homelessness continues to change as we work through tackling the state’s housing crisis. We have seen an increase of young people, seniors over the age of 55 and those with no previous history of homelessness unable to get access to housing.

The Essential Housing Package will help strengthen the safety net for those experiencing housing insecurity and provide wrap around support and services for some of our most vulnerable.

The package includes crucial funding to extend access to temporary accommodation to create a better place for people in crisis, along with funding to specialist homelessness services that provide certainty and stability for the people who need it most.

After more than a decade of inaction and neglect from the former government we are committed to rebuilding our housing system. As a start, we’re delivering more homes across our state and improving specialist homelessness services.

New $224 million Essential Housing Package to support social housing and homelessness services will include:

• $70.0 million financing facility to accelerate the delivery of social and affordable homes, primarily in regional New South Wales, by funding initial land and site works.
• $35.3 million for housing services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and families through Services Our Way.
• $35.0 million to support critical maintenance for social housing.
• $20.0 million reserved in Restart NSW for dedicated mental health housing.
• $15 million towards a NSW Housing Fund for priority housing and homelessness measures.
• $11.3 million urgent funding to continue the Together Home program in 2023-24.
• $11 million emergency funding for Temporary Accommodation in 2023-24 to support vulnerable people.
• $10.5 million additional funding to the Community Housing Leasing program.
• $10.0 million for a Modular Housing Trial to deliver faster quality social housing.
• $5.9 million urgent funding to Specialist Homelessness Services to respond to increasing demand.

NSW Premier, Chris Minns said:

“Everyone deserves access to safe and secure shelter. This package will be a boost to social and affordable housing and will help break cycles of homelessness.

“This is an important first step as we better support people in some of the most vulnerable situations.

“We have a housing crisis in New South Wales, and we are working across the government to address the challenges.”

NSW Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Rose Jackson said:

“Today is another step in the right direction as we rebuild our housing system.

“We know there is more work to do but our focus is on directing more money to build social and affordable homes and ensuring everyone in NSW has a safe place to call home.”