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The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP answers your questions - Transcript

Hi, I’m Tanya Plibersek, the Minister for Housing.

Thanks for your questions about the Social Housing Initiative, which is part of our Nation Building – Economic Stimulus Plan.

This video addresses most of the topics I was asked about. Those of you who asked about particular projects or locations need to contact the State and Territory Governments, who are managing the tendering and contracting processes, to get an update on where those applications are up to.

Each State and Territory Government has people to answer questions about particular applications and you can find their names and contact details on my department’s website if you go to www.fahcsia.gov.au and follow the links to the Social Housing Initiative.

I am pleased to say that the Initiative’s been very successful to date and we are on track to deliver the new homes we’ve promised.

Many State and Territory Governments have put in their own land and community housing organisations have also invested in these projects, allowing us to build more homes.

The Initiative will boost the supply of social housing in Australia by almost 30,000, which is above our original target of 20,000.

Around 19,300 new homes will be built across urban, rural and remote areas. Around half of these will be rented to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Another 10,000 homes which were so run down that they were already unfit for living in, or would have become unsuitable for occupancy over the next couple of years, will have major renovation work done and will become liveable again.

Another 35,000 houses have already received repairs or improvements, including the installation of insulation, and a further 15,000 have benefitted from repairs to common areas.

Some people asked about who gets priority for the new apartments and houses, and the type of houses being built.

People with low incomes and high needs get first priority for these homes. A lot of them will be people or families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, the elderly, Indigenous Australians or people with a disability.

The types of proposals that have been funded through the Initiative range from stand alone homes of three bedrooms or even more for families with kids, to units with on-site support and services to assist people who are homeless to transition to stable long term accommodation.

There’s also shared accommodation models that allow people with higher needs, like those living with a disability, to live together and receive support and assistance so they can be as independent as possible.

The homes are all well located. The majority are within walking distance of public transport and are close to essential services.

16,500 of the homes will offer better access for people who are ageing or have a disability. 35 per cent of these will comply with the Australian Standard for Adaptable Housing, which means they can be more easily modified again to suit the needs of tenants who have severe disabilities.

The Social Housing Initiative is not only critical in building more affordable housing, which is urgently needed, but also supports many jobs in the housing and construction industry.

It’s vital that the houses being built and upgraded are finished as soon as possible.

These building projects have very important flow on effects for other sectors of the workforce, and are assisting the Australian economy recover from global recession.

Construction has started on more than 2,300 homes.

A majority of the 30,000 homes being built and restored will be finished and ready for tenants by the end of 2010.

Please continue to visit the housing section of the Nation Building website which is regularly updated with news about housing projects that are happening around the country.

Thanks