Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne
Leading community housing providers have delivered a clear verdict on Inner West Council's proposed Affordable Housing Policy: get on with it.
The housing providers and peak bodies have overwhelmingly backed the policy ahead of Tuesday night's Council meeting, saying it provides a practical pathway to deliver more affordable homes for essential workers and residents being priced out of the Inner West.
Common Equity Co-operative Housing said the policy provides "a framework that guides the mobilisation of increased affordable housing delivery" and commended Council for recognising the needs of older women, First Nations peoples, artists, people with disability and culturally diverse households.
Shelter NSW, the state's peak housing policy and advocacy body, commended Council for its efforts to improve housing affordability across the LGA and "strongly supported its intent to deliver high-quality affordable housing in perpetuity".
The Women's Housing Company said: "We welcome the target tenant groups set out in the policy, particularly women and their children escaping domestic violence."
Bridge Housing said: "Affordable housing is critical infrastructure that is essential in supporting a sustainable and diverse community and local economy."
Hume Community Housing said it "strongly supports the strategic direction" of the policy and believes it provides "a sound foundation for increasing affordable housing supply across the LGA."
Inner West Council will consider the Affordable Housing Policy on Tuesday night as Sydney's housing affordability crisis continues to push essential workers and low-income earners out of the communities where they live and work.
The policy is based on a simple principle: when developers benefit from major planning changes and increased land values, the community, particularly renters, should share in those benefits through affordable housing delivery.
If adopted, Council will consider further measures to maximise affordable housing delivery, including partnerships with registered community housing providers and new mechanisms to pool developer contributions.
As the Inner West grows through Our Fairer Future and other major planning reforms, the policy aims to ensure growth strengthens local communities by helping nurses, teachers, police officers, childcare workers, hospitality workers, artists and young families continue to live locally.
Without action, rising housing costs will continue to push essential workers and young families further from the communities where they work, study and contribute.
Mayor Darcy Byrne said:
"The question isn't whether the Inner West will grow. The question is who benefits.
"If nurses, teachers, police officers, childcare workers and young families can't afford to live in the communities they serve, everyone pays the price.
"Growth should help the people who keep the Inner West running, not just deliver windfall gains to developers and landowners.
"I am pleased that the organisations most experienced in delivering affordable housing have overwhelmingly backed this approach.
"The housing sector has looked at this policy and said it wants to help us deliver more affordable homes. We're determined to get on with it."
Media Contact: heath.gilmore@innerwest.nsw.gov.au and 0437 868 362