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AFFORDABILITY PHASE II: AGEING AND HOMELESSNESS

Published: August 14, 2008, 6:00 am
Section: Jon Stanhope, MLA | Media Releases

Affordable housing for older Canberrans on modest incomes and creative measures to tackle homelessness will be the focus of Phase II of the ACT Government's Affordable Housing Action Plan, Chief Minister Jon Stanhope has announced.

"In the year since the release of the Affordable Housing Action Plan the Government, industry and the community have achieved a great deal together, with all 62 initiatives contained in the original plan now implemented," Mr Stanhope said today.

"Now the Government wants to build on that fantastic and nation-leading work, focusing on two particular areas of challenge - meeting the housing needs of an ageing population, and addressing the scourge of homelessness."

"While much has been done to boost the number of aged care beds and independent-living-units over recent years, not all Canberrans will want, or can afford, these options. As our population ages rapidly we need to look creatively at how we can meet the desires and expectations of a growing number of older Canberrans - and how we can provide affordable and appropriate options to suit everyone.

"We need to look at how we can better support older people to age in place in the community, through initiatives such as ‘virtual villages'. We need to look at dedicated developments that cater for older Canberrans on modest incomes. We need to explore possibilities such as various models of group houses.

"And we also need to look at the complex issue of homelessness, which is, of course, not just about the provision of shelter.

"That is why I have reconvened an Affordable Housing Steering Group and asked it to focus on options to increase the supply of affordable housing for older Canberrans and further initiatives to address homelessness.

"The Steering Group will advise the Government on options for an array of housing types. It will consider the needs of those entering or planning to enter aged care facilities. It will also consider the needs of those renting in the private market, those needing to relocate to more appropriate accommodation, those who desire to ‘age in place', those interested in sharing accommodation or services, and those who depend upon public or social housing."

The Steering Group will also consider the homelessness policies being developed by the Commonwealth, including through the Council of Australian Governments Housing Working Group, and look at how the ACT Government can expand on or complement these.

The Steering Group will be chaired by the Chief Minister's Department and will include officers from the Department of Treasury and the Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services. Other agencies will be involved on specific issues as necessary.

An advisory group made up of representatives of peak housing bodies, welfare organisations and social services will feed its expertise into the project.

The Steering Group will provide an interim report to the Government by February 2009, with a final report to be provided by April 2009.

The first phase of the Affordable Housing Action Plan focused on helping people enter the housing market through the acceleration of land release, a streamlined planning system and stamp duty concessions for first home buyers and pensioners. More affordable rental accommodation and support for public, community and not-for-profit housing providers were also priorities of phase one.

Since the release of the Affordable Housing Action Plan, the ACT Labor Government has:

  • released a record 3,400 blocks to the market in 2007-08 and adopted a new rolling five-year land release program;
  • streamlined land release and approval processes, and englobo land releases;
  • mandated the delivery of house and land packages priced between $200,000 and $300,000;
  • provided stamp duty concessions for low-income earners and pensioners;
  • increased the stamp duty income threshold by 20 per cent to $120,000;
  • allowed the deferral of stamp duty payment for up to 5 years for eligible home buyers;
  • introduced the land rent provision to enable more low-income families to purchase their own home;
  • invited institutional investors to provide affordable private rental accommodation;
  • boosted community housing with an equity injection of $40 million and a loan facility of $50 million;
  • ensured that better and more targeted use is made of public housing - 87 per cent of new allocations are made to applicants in urgent need of housing compared with just over 38 per cent nationally;
  • implemented measures to improve the energy efficiency of the public housing stock to reduce energy costs for public housing tenants;
  • commenced a pilot program aimed at helping young tenants to build supportive community networks;
  • released two demonstration villages to showcase affordable land and housing packages; and
  • funded a design award for excellence in affordable housing.

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Terms of Reference - Steering Group on Affordable Housing

Building on the success and work of the first Affordable Housing Steering Group, which reported to Government in March 2007, the reformed Steering Group is to examine and report to Government on options to increase the supply of affordable housing for older Canberrans and further initiatives to address homelessness and sleeping rough in the ACT.

In relation to affordable housing for the aged, the Group will examine options for all forms of housing, including considering the needs of those:

  • entering or planning to enter aged care facilities;
  • renting properties in the private market;
  • needing to relocate to more accessible or appropriate accommodation;
  • wishing to ‘age in place';
  • wishing to share accommodation or services; and
  • seeking or planning to enter public or social housing.

The Group should also build on the actions of the Building for our Ageing Community strategy.

In addressing homelessness, the Group is to have regard to policies under development by the Commonwealth Government, including through the Council of Australian Government's Housing Working Group.

The Steering Group will be chaired by the Chief Minister's Department and will include membership from the Department of Treasury, and the Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services. Other agencies will be involved on specific issues as necessary.

The Steering Group will consult with an advisory group made up of representatives of peak housing bodies, welfare organisations and social services.

The Steering Group will provide an interim report to the Government by February 2009, with a final report to be provided by April 2009.

Media Contact:

Jess Wurf   6205 0504   0411 772 700   jess.wurf@act.gov.au   
Penelope Layland   6205 9777   0438 289 714   penelope.layland@act.gov.au