Housing News Digest
Housing News Digest
The Tenants' Union Housing News Digest compiles our pick of items from all the latest tenancy and housing media, sent once per week, on Thursdays.
Below is the Digest archive from November 2020 onwards. From time to time you will find additional items in the archive that did not make it into the weekly Digest email. Earlier archives are here, where you can also find additional digests by other organisations.
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Archive
Victoria to offer rent relief payments
Rachel Eddie The Sydney Morning Herald (Paywall)Victorians struggling to pay rent because of the pandemic will be assisted with a one-off $1500 grant paid directly to their landlords. Renters will need to have lost at least 20 per cent of their income as a result of the pandemic, since May 27 this year, and need to spend at least 30 per cent of their pay on rent. Singles will need to earn less than $62,860 and couples will need to earn no more than $94,300. People will also need to have less than $2000 in savings. Almost $45 million will also be added to fund emergency hotel accommodation for people experiencing homelessness, in a program extended until June 30 next year. You can also pick up this story on ABC PM at: [https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/pm/vic-covid-cases-climb-as-libs-head-for-leadership-spill/13529660]
https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/victoria-on-track-for-f…
# TUNSW in the media Australia, Rent, Coronavirus COVID-19.Catherine Hill Bay home
(No paywall)A retired coal miner is locked in a david and goliath battle to save his home of more than 60 years, from the wrecking ball. 77-year-old Joey Warren's Catherine Hill Bay home is set to be demolished to make way for a new housing development - but he says he's not going anywhere. (NBN Television)
https://www.facebook.com/nbntelevision/videos/384738586383010/
# Audio NSW, Eviction, Heritage listings, Protected tenants, Regional NSW.Social housing residents form Action Group after ‘over-policed’ hard lockdown rollout
Eva Baxter (No paywall)Mission Australia’s Common Ground social housing facility in Camperdown was placed into lockdown from 8AM on Thursday 2 September for 14 days until Wednesday 15 September after four tenants tested positive to COVID-19. Common Ground residents formed an Action Group to ensure they are properly supported. Common Ground Action Group criticised the lockdown rollout as over-policed, heavy handed, intimidatory and demeaning. “The people of Common Ground have a history of being treated differently with regards to our social status as being ‘vulnerable,’” the group said. “We are a vulnerable group coming from diverse backgrounds, many with a history of trauma however we also see this as a position of strength, versatility and as a group we identify as proud survivors of institutional trauma. “We will not tolerate harassment or disempowerment by anyone including Mission Australia, local Police authorities or RPA hospital staff.”
https://cityhubsydney.com.au/2021/09/social-housing-residents-fo…
# Hot topic NSW, Discrimination, Public and community housing, Coronavirus COVID-19.Social housing residents struggling with ‘inadequate food’ and ‘overpolicing’ in hard lockdown
Eden Gillespie SBS (No paywall)Residents in a social housing estate in Sydney have complained about overpolicing and inadequate food supplies after 104 homes were plunged into hard lockdown, following the detection of four positive COVID-19 cases in the building. Ms Saffaa, a disability support worker and artist, was about to leave for work last Thursday when her building was swarmed by health workers in PPE and police officers. “Someone stopped me and asked me if I was a resident. I said yes and they said, ‘Well, the building is under lockdown, you can't leave’,” Ms Saffaa told The Feed. Ms Saffaa lives in Common Ground Towers, a social housing estate in Camperdown. The building is run by Mission Australia, with residents having experienced long-term homelessness and insecure housing.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/the-feed/social-housing-residents-st…
# Hot topic NSW, Discrimination, Public and community housing, Coronavirus COVID-19.The conference explained: what does zero carbon mean for social housing?
Jess McCabe Inside Housing (Paywall)From the United Kingdom ... Zero carbon is a major strand of #Housing 2021 [Conference], and a growing priority for the country. What changes will this mean for social housing and what are the key questions to ask in sessions at the conference? [Read on]
https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/insight/the-conference-explained…
# International, Public and community housing, Repairs, Utilities water energy internet, Climate change, Housing market.Essential workers face rental stress right across Sydney
Kate Burke and Melissa Heagney Domain (No paywall)Sydney’s housing affordability crisis is leaving essential workers – the ones keeping Sydney going during lockdown – struggling to keep a roof over their heads, new analysis shows. Not one suburb in Sydney would be considered affordable for essential workers like aged-care nurses, supermarket managers and factory workers, a comparison of Domain rental data and the latest median salary data from the Australian Taxation Office shows. ... Tenants’ Union of NSW chief executive Leo Patterson Ross said unaffordable rents had seen Sydneysiders compromise on the location and quality of their housing and had left more people in overcrowded homes. ... “People are living in converted garages, in dodgy apartment buildings with illegal conversions, and all because we haven’t set up our housing system to house Australians, we’ve set it up as an investment [opportunity].”
https://www.domain.com.au/news/essential-workers-face-rental-str…
# TUNSW in the media NSW, Rent, Families, Housing affordability, Housing market.Property Market Boom Fuels Public Housing Crisis
Renee McKeown (No paywall)Social housing could once again become the “tenure of choice” for blue-collar workers as rent and mortgage costs continue to grow. Median house prices have hit all-time-highs in Sydney while Melbourne has now exceeded the $1-million median. Brisbane is expected to follow suit in the lead up to the 2032 Olympics. The price growth was not limited to major cities with regional areas such as Byron Bay pushing well past the $1 million mark in May. Among regions facing an “affordable housing crisis” is Apollo Bay, in Victoria’s south coast, where many people who lived and worked in the region before the pandemic can no longer afford to buy or rent. ... There was also a looming shortfall of social housing with future demand due to exceed new stock, according to a report by Compass Housing Services. [Read on] (Urban Developer)
https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/property-market-boom-…
# Australia, Public and community housing, Housing affordability.Ongoing lockdowns across Sydney and Melbourne fail to dent interest in a move to regional areas
Gemma Purves Canberra Times (Paywall)Over the past 10 weeks on Race to the Regions we've explored the impact of COVID on regional and rural Australia. What started as a trickle of interest 18 months ago has turned into a wholesale movement and it's been a pleasure to document just some of the stories of those who've made the transition from city to regional living. It's not all idyllic, some of those we've spoken to have highlighted the difficulties faced as a single person trying to make friends and build a new life during a pandemic. Others have flagged the shock that comes with the change of pace. For the most part however, it's been one of relief and joy. ... Unfortunately for a number of communities it is now the single biggest issue facing residents who rent or can't afford to purchase a home. There is no easy answer to this situation.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7417324/no-end-in-sight-i…
# Hot topic Australia, Rent, Home ownership, Housing affordability, Housing market, Regional NSW.