Yes, there is a housing crisis
In a media release received last week, Local Government NSW said the housing crisis had reached boiling point for NSW Councils.
President Darriea Turley AM said councils, as the closest level of government to the community, were seeing firsthand the impact of rental vacancy rates at all-time lows when a significant proportion of the community was locked out of home ownership.
“Housing affordability is arguably the most pressing issue right now affecting communities across the state,” he added.
“No one is more aware of the burdens of the rising cost of housing in NSW than our 128 councils and their mayors.
“Our councillors are hearing firsthand from distressed residents in their communities about the pressures they face while paying some of the most expensive property prices in the world.
“Many people, particularly young adults in our communities, are finding it increasingly difficult to enter the housing market, with home ownership continuing to decline rapidly.
“The housing affordability crisis we are seeing right now is a dire situation.”
Councils in NSW are so concerned at the worsening housing crisis they have issued an open letter to all federal election candidates, calling on them to commit to a four-point plan.
Local Government NSW (LGNSW) President Darriea Turley AM said the state’s 128 councils were asking candidates for:
• Substantial federal investment to deliver an additional 5,000 social housing dwellings per year, for the next decade
• Investment in a far greater supply of affordable rental housing, for hardworking Australians increasingly facing housing insecurity
• A plan to improve rates of home ownership without supercharging demand and contributing to even higher household debt and worsened affordability, and
• A Royal Commission into the affordability and future of housing in Australia.
“Councils continue to see low- and middle-income workers being priced out of local housing,” Cr Turley said.
“This is as true in the regions as in metropolitan areas.”
VOX POP
In a media release received last week, Local Government NSW said the housing crisis had reached boiling point for NSW Councils.
President Darriea Turley AM said councils, as the closest level of government to the community, were seeing firsthand the impact of rental vacancy rates at all-time lows when a significant proportion of the community was locked out of home ownership.
“Housing affordability is arguably the most pressing issue right now affecting communities across the state,” he added.
“No one is more aware of the burdens of the rising cost of housing in NSW than our 128 councils and their mayors.
“Our councillors are hearing firsthand from distressed residents in their communities about the pressures they face while paying some of the most expensive property prices in the world.
“Many people, particularly young adults in our communities, are finding it increasingly difficult to enter the housing market, with home ownership continuing to decline rapidly.
“The housing affordability crisis we are seeing right now is a dire situation.”
VOX POP
In a short Vox Pop conducted by The Riverine Grazier over the past week, the message is clear: Yes. Hay has a housing shortage, and it is critical.
Emma Harrison: Hay most definitely has a housing shortage.
Even before Mad Max, we had new nurses who were struggling to get rental accommodation – sometimes taking months.
Paul Sullivan posted on Facebook: I would be surprised if Hay, like most progressive economically towns, doesn’t have a shortage of affordable housing.
I find the mayor’s remarks typical of someone who has never faced housing problems and sees life just through own experiences.
Bridie Harding: The rental crisis in Hay is terrible.
I tried looking for a house for six months and couldn’t find anything and even working full time, it was so hard to apply for one through a real estate.
So many people and families are looking for a rental but it’s near impossible to find one in Hay at the moment.
