Decision details

Moved by Councillor Ellsmore, seconded by Councillor Scully –

It is resolved that:

(A)      Council note:

(i)         the first meeting of the Housing for All Working Group was held on Tuesday 6 September 2022, in the Council Chamber;

(ii)        the meeting included presentations and discussion about Council’s work to protect and expand different types of affordable housing in the City, including through developer contributions, through Council’s Affordable and Diverse Housing Fund, through the Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC) and through the Council’s “Alternative Housing Ideas Challenge”;

(iii)      the meeting also raised issues and opportunities for future discussions to expand access to safe, secure and affordable housing in the City of Sydney and beyond. This included but was not limited to:

(a)       education and advocacy;

(a)       support for innovative housing models such as Community Land Trusts;

(b)       reforms to the planning system including developer contributions;

(c)       protection of existing public housing, and support for public housing tenants at risk of relocation through the redevelopment of housing estates;

(d)       the growing number of people who identify as homeless or at risk of homelessness;

(e)       the need for better controls and protections for boarding houses;

(f)        the need for more age-appropriate and aged care housing;

(g)       better use of spaces that are vacant or empty in the City;

(h)       lack of access to appropriate housing, including disability accessible housing, low income housing for families, and housing for Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander people;

(i)        increasing cost of energy contributing to unaffordability of housing;

(j)        inadequate maintenance or standards in rental housing, including public housing and private rental;

(k)       ensuring the projected development and expansion of the City includes sufficient affordable housing, including for key workers; and

(l)        improved data collection; and

(iv)      the Housing for All Working Group will finalise its priorities and work program in coming months.

Carried unanimously.

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