NSW Government continues to boost much-needed social housing in Sydney’s south-west

Friday, 1 March 2024

The NSW Government is continuing to bolster housing security for those in need with tenants moving into a newly completed social and affordable apartment complex in south-west Sydney.

The brand new six-storey complex in Campbelltown comprises 35 two-bedroom, four three-bedroom and two-one-bedroom units and will provide 94 residents, ranging from young families to people at risk of homelessness a safe and secure place to call home.

With a NSW Government investment of $22 million, the building was purchased off the plan and will be managed by Homes NSW.

Purchasing this property shovel-ready, directly off the plan meant construction was able to be expedited, delivering quality social housing close to transport services and retail amenities.

This is one of the many ways the NSW Government is working to build the state's social housing portfolio to address the increased demand for social and affordable housing.

With more than 55,000 people on the waitlist for social housing, and close to 12,000 on the list in Sydney’s south-west alone, the NSW Government will continue explore every option to expedite the delivery of more homes to help confront the housing crisis.

The NSW Government is committed to a proactive approach to boost social housing, and support those experiencing homelessness. Action already undertaken has included:

• Creating Homes NSW, merging the housing and homelessness functions of the Department of Communities and Justice with the Land, Housing Corporation and the Aboriginal Housing Office to streamline support for residents and delivery pathway for more homes;
• Committing to 30 per cent social and affordable housing in all developments on government surplus public land;
• Undertaking a statewide land audit to identify state owned land to deliver more housing;
• Fast tracking the delivery of more social and affordable homes through the $610 Million Federal Government’s Social Housing Accelerator payment and Housing Australia Future Fund;
• Implementing planning reforms to expedite the delivery of more housing across the state;
• Investigating innovative solutions to deliver more homes with $10 million allocated to Modular Housing Trial to deliver faster quality social housing;
• The 2023-24 NSW Budget included a $224 million Essential Housing Package which allocated $70 million to accelerate the delivery of social, affordable homes in regional NSW;
• Extending temporary accommodation from an initial period of two days to seven days;
• Removing the 28-day cap ensuring vulnerable people are able to access support when they need it most;
• Increasing the cash assets limit from $1,000 to $5,000 when assessing eligibility for Temporary Accommodation;
• Removing the cash asset limit assessment entirely for people escaping domestic and family violence;
• Extending Specialist Homelessness Services contracts for two years, to 30 June 2026;
• Deploying more assertive outreach services to engage people sleeping rough and support them into long term, stable accommodation;
• Appointing a Rental Commissioner to work with us in designing and implementing changes that rebalance the rental market, making it fairer and more modern; and
• Put a 12-month freeze on the requirement for people in temporary accommodation to complete a Rental Diary, while the scheme is reviewed.

Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said:

“This project is a prime example of the NSW Government’s commitment to ‘thinking outside the box’ when it comes to delivering more fit for purpose housing for those people in need.

“We’ve identified the potential of purchasing new developments off the plan to support the timely delivery of more social housing. This site ticked all the boxes – including its location and being shovel ready.

“This is one of the many ways we can deliver more social housing right across the state and specifically in Sydney’s south-west, where we’re seeing an increased demand for social and affordable housing as the cost of living continues to rise.”