The City of Greater Bendigo has released a paper for public comment to help inform its future role in the delivery of affordable housing to the community.
The Affordable Housing Background Paper outlines some of the main affordable housing issues faced in Greater Bendigo, including insufficient housing supply, increasing demand for social housing, illegal dwellings, increasing homelessness, intergenerational disadvantage and challenges in the private rental market.
Director Strategy and Growth Bernie O'Sullivan said it was up to each individual Council to determine how it would support the development of a strong affordable housing market in their community.
"There is not a set role for Local Government in the provision of affordable housing but we have seen in our community that there is an appetite for the City to be more involved in supporting this kind of development," Mr O'Sullivan said.
"Having an adequate supply of affordable housing is essential to improving the liveability of Greater Bendigo. When people have access to safe and affordable housing it helps them to secure and maintain a job, keep families safe, raise happy and healthy children, enjoy a better standard of living and contribute to their community.
"There are many actions the City can take, including advocacy to State and Federal governments, ensure sufficiently zoned land is available, work with housing providers and organisations to develop and support affordable housing for rent and purchase, support funding applications from various organisations to increase the supply of affordable housing and work with the construction sector to incorporate affordable housing into new housing developments.
"Feedback from the background paper will inform the new Affordable Housing Action Plan for Greater Bendigo, which will outline what the City's future role will be."
Developing an Affordable Housing Action Plan is a key priority in Council's adopted Community Plan 2017-2021 and the Greater Bendigo Housing Strategy.
Types of affordable housing include assisted home ownership, discounted private rental market, community housing, public housing, transitional housing and crisis housing.
Affordable housing is typically defined as housing that is at a cost relevant to and proportional to people's income. The Planning and Environment Act 1987 defines it as housing (including social housing) that is appropriate for the needs of very low income, low income and moderate income households.
To read the background paper and provide comment through a short survey, visit www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/affordablehousing
