Time to commit to action on housing affordability
22 August 2013
The peak housing advocacy organisation for low income Australians, National Shelter, today expressed deep concern that neither major party has addressed the greatest cause of financial hardship for very many Australian households – the lack of affordable housing.
“We are half way through the election campaign, and despite repeated calls across the community, neither Labor nor the Coalition have offered any direct affordable housing policies”, said National Shelter Chair,
Step forward with continued commitment to ending homelessness
National Shelter media release — 28 March 2013
National Shelter has welcomed the Australian Government, state and territories’ commitment to ending homelessness and their long-term investment in affordable rental housing.
Today the federal government announced Round 5 of the National Rental Affordability Scheme to be delivered in 2015–16.
Additionally, the states and territories matched the federal government’s pledge for the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness with a total of $320 million for one
Imperative state and territories match federal government’s homelessness funding
National Shelter media release — 18 March 2013
National Shelter has welcomed the Australian Government’s commitment to ending homelessness by providing up to $159 million to extend the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness for one year.
Chair of National Shelter, Adrian Pisarski, has applauded the federal government’s pledge, and called for the states and territories to provide the matching funding needed to maintain momentum to address homelessness.
'The 2008 white paper on homelessness,
Sole parenting payment cuts could make families homeless
National Shelter media release — 5 March 2013
Housing policy peak National Shelter has warned that the changes to sole parenting payments will force more families into housing stress and homelessness.
National Shelter Chairperson Adrian Pisarski said that sole parent families face the double challenge of unaffordable rents and discrimination in the private rental market.
‘Eroding the income of sole parents undermines their ability to house their children’, Mr Pisarski said.
‘The Government’s white
Undersupply of affordable housing forces difficult housing choices
National Shelter media release — 1 March 2013
National Shelter has welcomed the National Housing Supply Council’s report released today, revealing Australian’s unaffordable housing issue continues to grow.
The report, Housing supply and affordability issues 2012–13, used the 2011 Census data, examining Australian households’ housing consumption and how it has changed over the last decade.
National Shelter Chairperson, Adrian Pisarski, said that the report demonstrates that Australians are changing their housing choices due
National Shelter’s five principles for redeveloping social housing
National Shelter media release — 21 January 2013
Housing policy peak National Shelter has challenged governments planning redevelopments of social housing sites to adopt five principles.
Chairperson of National Shelter Adrian Pisarski said that National Shelter’s support for redevelopment of social housing sites, such as Fitzroy, was conditional on:
- A net gain in social housing stock
- Clear communication plans to minimise confusion and fear for tenants
- Meaningful consultation with social housing tenants and the broader
Ongoing social housing investment benefits wider community
National Shelter media release — 8 January 2013
National Shelter has welcomed a KPMG report declaring the overwhelming benefits of social housing investment through the 2009 economic stimulus plan, as well as the economic boost to the building industry.
The $5.6 billion Social Housing Initiative was the single largest housing funding commitment in Australian history. The KPMG report showed that 19,700 new dwellings were constructed — exceeding targets by about 13 per
Festive season stress for low-income households
National Shelter media release — 7 December 2012
Housing peak National Shelter is alarmed but not surprised by the most recent figures on housing stress, showing low-income households will suffer more than ever this holiday season.
A report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Housing assistance in Australia 2012, revealed that in 2010, 17% of all households were in housing stress, jumping from 14% in 1995.
The report also revealed that
Roundtable to tackle Tasmania’s affordable housing crisis
National Shelter media release — 21 November 2012
National housing peak National Shelter is calling for the state and federal governments to commit to affordable housing solutions in Tasmania, at a roundtable to be held in Hobart tomorrow, 22 November 2012.
The roundtable, convening to discuss the future of the National Affordable Housing Agreement (NAHA), aims to hear the different perspectives of government and non-government experts.
18,000 Tasmanian households are in housing stress.
Challenge accepted! Housing peak thrilled at states’ NPA commitment
National Shelter media release — 16 November 2012
National housing peak National Shelter welcomes the commitment by states and territories to continue the National Partnership Agreement (NPA) on Homelessness for the next year.
This commitment comes after today’s Select Council on Housing and Homelessness Ministers in Brisbane.
The Select Council is comprised of federal minister Brendan O’Connor, and housing ministers from Australia’s states and territories.
Chair of National Shelter, Adrian Pisarski, says he is
Onus now on states to meet O’Connor’s homelessness challenge
National Shelter media release — 14 November 2012
National housing peak National Shelter welcomes Minister O’Connor’s commitment to continue the National Partnership Agreement (NPA), on homelessness for the next year.
This commitment comes ahead of the Select Council of Housing Ministers meeting in Brisbane on Friday, and firmly puts the focus on state government to match this commitment to ending homelessness in Australia.
The Select Council is comprised of federal Minister Brendan
Launch of national housing priorities calls for national housing strategy
National Shelter media release — 30 October 2012
On the eve of the National Housing Conference, National Shelter calls on the federal government to develop a National Housing Strategy.
This is based on the release of National Shelter’s 2012 housing priorities publication, ‘Meeting housing challenges’, today at the National Shelter Council Meeting.
Chairperson of National Shelter, Adrian Pisarski, says the publication showcases just how overdue a housing