ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSES AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Increasing the stock of affordable housing for low-income Canberrans in the private rental market was high on the agenda for today's affordable housing roundtable, which was co-hosted by Chief Minister Jon Stanhope and Minister for Housing Joy Burch.

Representatives from industry, government and the community sector met to explore new ideas and partnership models to improve the supply of housing, particularly at the low-cost end of the market.

Mr Stanhope said that despite considerable advances in tackling affordability for many groups of Canberrans, recent events had highlighted that there was more room for fresh ideas.

"Today's roundtable is part the Government's commitment to explore new ideas and solutions to help low-income Canberrans who are struggling to find affordable and appropriate accommodation," Mr Stanhope said. "Members of the roundtable raised a number of innovative ideas and expressed enthusiasm to explore new partnership models to address this very complex issue.

"I was particularly encouraged by the commitment from the community and private sectors to examine how they could work together to deliver more affordable accommodation particularly for the homeless and the aged.

"I have asked senior officials from the Department of Land and Property Services and the Department of Housing and Community Services to consult further with the roundtable participants and develop recommendations for the Government to consider as part of its ongoing efforts to tackle housing affordability in all its forms.

"Considerable advances been made in tackling housing affordability in the ACT. The Government's Land Rent Scheme has helped more than 450 Canberrans to secure a home, while another 200 Canberrans have purchased an affordable house and land package for under $328,000 through the OwnPlace Scheme. The mandated level of affordable housing in new estates has also recently increased from 15 per cent to 20 per cent.

"The Government is helping CHC Affordable Housing to build 1,000 affordable homes for rent and sale by 2017 through a $50 million line of credit. More than 200 properties have been completed and are housing over 400 Canberrans. Another 365 homes are either under construction or soon to commence.

"However the recent revelation of people living in overcrowded conditions in informal boarding houses in the suburbs has prompted me to redouble the Government's efforts to address this complex challenge."

Media Contact:

Chantelle Lustri 6205 2775 0434 560 770 chantelle.lustri@act.gov.au
Jess Wurf 6205 0504 0411 772 700 jess.wurf@act.gov.au