An expert report by the federal Government's own infrastructure authority has found there is a deep and chronic undersupply of social and affordable housing on the South Coast.
Infrastructure Australia's Regional Strengths and Infrastructure Gaps report finds "a housing shortage in the region has implications for social inclusion, as those on lower incomes are forced out of the private housing market and face an undersupplied public housing system."
It points out that as of June 2020, there was a waitlist of up to 10 years for social housing within the Shellharbour LGA. It also warns:
"This housing shortage may be further exacerbated by an increase in migration of sea-changers and tree- changers to the regions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a circumstance which may see the migration of young people out of the region as they cannot find appropriate and affordable accommodation. This is particularly problematic in a region with an already ageing population.
The report notes that only 3.5% of households were in social housing while 39% of renters were living in rental stress.
Kate Colvin, national spokesperson for Everybody's Home, said the report reinforced the urgent need for an expansion of social and affordable housing.
"Rents have absolutely skyrocketed on the South Coast and people on low and modest incomes are being pushed to the brink of homelessness," Kate Colvin said. "Expanding social and affordable housing would give South Coast families greater choice, by taking the heat out of the local market and stabilising the housing system.
"This is the right thing to do but also the smart and rational thing to do. The Federal Government's own economic adviser is pointing out that social housing is an economic and social imperative.
"This is entirely consistent with local community experience. Polling we released last week showed 84 per cent of respondents thought it was either 'hard' or 'very hard' for people on low-to-middle incomes to rent a home in their community. And 72 per cent said the federal Government had not done enough to address housing affordability.
"People on modest incomes have to bend over backwards just to secure and maintain a home. It shouldn't be this hard."
