Affordable housing
Shelter for all
Inner West Council believes that affordable and secure housing is a basic need and an essential requirement of an inclusive and sustainable community.
Housing is considered to be ‘affordable’ when households who rent or have a mortgage are able to meet these costs and still have sufficient income to pay for other basic needs such as food, clothing, transport, medical care and education. Lower income households paying more than 30% of their gross income on rent or mortgage payments are considered to be in housing stress.
One aspect of the affordable housing crisis involves the displacement of key workers employed in essential jobs and emergency service. The displacement of key workers due to high rents and property values has an adverse impact on both economic development and social diversity within local communities, including the Inner West.
Inner West Affordable Housing Policy
A revised Affordable Housing Policy (PDF 1.5MB) was adopted by Council on 10 May 2022.
Affordable Rental Housing Program
Council’s Affordable Rental Housing Program is a 'key worker' program that provides housing assistance to lower income workers employed in essential jobs and emergency services in the Inner West local government area.
As of May 2023, Council has acquired 19 affordable housing units through planning agreements. These are located in Lewisham (4 units), Dulwich Hill (2 units), Summer Hill (4 units) and Marrickville (9 units). All units are managed by Link Wentworth, a registered Community Housing Provider, under a Residential Property Management Agreement signed with Council. All surplus funds generated by these units are transferred to Council's Affordable Housing Fund for future expenditure on affordable housing projects within the local government area.
The program's eligibility criteria include having a local connection (e.g. is an employee in the Inner West Council area or has family living in the area). Priority is given to applicants who are permanently employed in a range of key industry sectors in the Inner West or neighbouring regions. (Refer to eligibility criteria below).
Acquisition of affordable rental housing
One way local governments can increase the supply of affordable rental housing is through their intervention in the planning system. Planning mechanisms that councils can use to increase affordable housing supply include planning agreements and inclusionary zoning. In the future, Council is planning to use inclusionary zoning in the form of Affordable Housing Contribution Schemes under Part 2 of State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021 (Housing SEPP) to add to its affordable rental housing portfolio.
Objectives and management guidelines
Council’s Affordable Rental Housing Program (ARHP) is one of a number of initiatives being implemented by Council to encourage the supply of housing that is affordable for low to moderate income households.
As a 'key worker' program, the ARHP aims to assist local employees whose incomes exceed the eligibility criteria for public housing, but are unable to rent locally without succumbing to housing stress. In this sense, the ARHP is about complementing, not duplicating the role of the Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) and Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) whose priority it is to assist households with the greatest needs through the provision of public housing.
The ARHP also aims to:
- Assist 'key workers' on low to moderate incomes for a period of three years;
- Ensure the full cost of the program, including every day property maintenance, tenancy management and administration fees, are fully covered by the rent collected by the Housing Manager; and
- Return any surplus income generated by the program to Council’s Affordable Housing Fund which is dedicated to funding affordable housing projects, such as cyclical maintenance as well as development partnerships that will increase the supply of affordable rental housing in the local government area.
Annexure C to Council’s Management Agreement with Link Wentworth entitled Affordable Rental Housing Program and Procedures provides guidelines for the ongoing management of affordable housing units owned by Council.
Eligibility criteria
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Recipients of Council’s affordable rental housing will be required to meet the income criteria as set by the Australian Government's National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS), employment criteria and additional criteria as set out in Council's Affordable Rental Housing Program and Procedures.
Income Criteria
Income thresholds for 2019/20 were set at $51,398 to $122,211 per annum, depending on household composition ranging from a household comprising one adult through to a household comprising a couple with three children. The income thresholds are reviewed annually by the Australian Government in accordance with the NRAS tenant income index.
Additional Criteria
To be eligible for Council's Affordable Rental Housing Program, a tenant must meet the following criteria:
- Does not own assets or property which could reasonably be used to meet their housing needs;
- Is an Australian citizen or permanent resident;
- Must not already be living in subsidised housing (Housing NSW or Community Housing managed accommodation); and
- Be working in the Inner West Council LGA and permanently employed in one of the employment sectors listed below in the Inner West Council or neighbouring region.
Employment Sectors
- Health Services (including support and ancillary staff);
- Childcare;
- Primary or Secondary Education (including support and ancillary staff);
- Emergency Services (including support and ancillary staff);
- Transport;
- Inner West Council employees;
- Retail;
- Labourers;
- Manufacturing; or
- Hospitality.
An application form and additional information can be obtained from Link Housing on (02) 9412 5111.
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Boarding houses
The Inner West Council LGA has one of the highest concentrations of boarding houses in the Sydney metropolitan region. Given the decline in housing affordability, traditional boarding houses can be a source of affordable accommodation for households on low incomes.
Inner West Council supports local services that assist boarding house residents deal with such issues as security of tenure, rental increases and the quality of boarding house amenities.
In addition, Council monitors boarding house developments and participates in Boarding House Roundtable meetings convened by the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre. Refer to Newtown Neighbourhood Centre's Boarding House Outreach Service.
For more information on boarding houses in the Inner West Council local government area, refer to Council's Submission to the NSW Government's Review of the Boarding Houses Act 2012, 8 October 2019.
Homelessness
Homelessness is a significant and growing issue in the Inner West community. Research indicates that a major contributing factor leading to the growth in homelessness is the lack of affordable and appropriate housing linked to support services where needed.
In particular, research released by Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) shows that during the last few years there has been a disproportionate increase in the number of families who are homeless caused by domestic and family violence, poverty, and a lack of affordable and suitable accommodation. Refer to Valentine, K., Blunden, H., Zufferey, C., Spinney, A., Zirakbash, F. (2020) Supporting families effectively through the homelessness services system, AHURI Final Report No. 330, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute Limited, Melbourne.
Also refer to the 'heat maps' on the Everybody's Home website that show how many people are homeless and how much social housing is needed in Federal electorates near you.
Common Ground Sydney
Utilising the 'common ground' model which originated in New York, the Mission Australia supported accommodation facility in Camperdown adopts the 'street to home' approach of providing stable, permanent housing for the chronically homeless.
The model is based upon the principle of satisfying housing need as the vital first step towards a satisfying and balanced life for people affected by homelessness. It provides on-site support designed to help tenants maintain their housing, address health issues, and pursue education and employment.
More information on this project located in Camperdown Sydney can be accessed here.
Finland's Housing First model
The need for an adequate supply of affordable, secure housing to tackle homelessness has been well demonstrated by Finland's Housing First model. This model was approved in 2007 as a means of assisting the most vulnerable homeless people. Permanent housing based on a normal lease was seen as a fundamental solution for each homeless person. Individually tailored support services, increasing the supply of affordable rental housing and preventive measures were also part of the approach.
Since its launch in 2008, Finland's Housing First program has created 3,500 new dwellings to accommodate the homeless. As a result, the number of long-term homeless people in Finland has fallen by more than 35% while rough sleeping has been all but eradicated in Helsinki, where only one 50-bed night shelter remains. More information on Finland's Housing First model can be found here and here.
Refer to Council's Homelessness webpage for information on local responses to assist homeless people.
Housing & Affordability Advisory Committee
The Housing & Affordability Advisory Committee (HAAC) is one of Council's Local Democracy Groups. Advisory Committees help support Council to implement its Community Strategic Plan - Our Inner West 2036 through initiatives outlined in Council’s Delivery Program 2022-26 and actions listed in Council’s annual Operational Plan and Budget.
The scope of HAAC's activities includes monitoring and encouraging the implementation of Council’s Affordable Housing Policy and other relevant policies and plans related to increasing affordable housing supply for very low, low and moderate income households, including essential workers, boarding house residents, homeless people and others experiencing housing stress.
Further information on HAAC can be accessed here.
Emergency accommodation
- Housing NSW
Link2Home
1800 152 152
A single, state-wide telephone service for homelessness enquiries in NSW providing assistance to people who are homeless or at risk of being homelessness by offering access to specialised support and accommodation services.
- Youth Emergency Accommodation Line
1800 424 830
Provides a simple way for young people (under 18) to find a safe place to sleep for the night. YEAL is run by Yfoundations, a peak body that seeks to end youth homelessness and aims to represent the needs of young people at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness.
- Domestic Violence Line
Call the Department of Communities & Justice Domestic Violence Line 1800 656 463 (open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day) or access the Department's website here.
Rental accommodation
Community housing providers
Community housing providers in the Inner West Council area that provide affordable rental housing to people on low to moderate incomes or with special needs
Other links
- Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI)
A consortium of research centre funded by the Australian State and Commonwealth governments, as well as by member universities.
- Shelter NSW
Advocates for the interests of people disadvantaged in housing markets and builds the capacity of non profit organisations to provide housing.
- Centre for Affordable Housing
A business unit of Housing NSW, which works with State and local government, non-profit organisations, and private companies to generate creative responses to declining housing affordability. Also, a source of housing data.
- NSW Homelessness Action Plan
Contains a broad range of actions that focus on specific target groups that are homeless or vulnerable to homelessness. The Plan is structured under the following three areas: (1) preventing homelessness; (2) responding effectively to homelessness; and (3) breaking the cycle.