$40M BOOST FOR NSW SOCIAL HOUSING AND JOBS
The NSW Government has announced 31 successful bids by Community Housing Providers (CHPs) to deliver $40 million in stimulus funding to upgrade social housing, create jobs and help build safer and stronger communities throughout NSW.
Minister for Water, Property and Housing, Melinda Pavey, said the $40 million program will deliver capital works for more than 2000 properties owned by the NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) and managed by CHPs, including 55 per cent in regional locations.
“The program will support more than 350 jobs in NSW, with more than half of them in regional areas. Regional NSW has also received over half of government stimulus grants over $1 million,” Mrs Pavey said.
The $40 million stimulus injection forms part of the NSW Government’s record budget investment of close to $900 million to fast-track construction of thousands of new homes, while creating jobs and boosting the State’s economic recovery from COVID-19.
Successful CHPs demonstrated value for money, and a commitment to delivering by the end of this financial year. CHPs will now engage local contractors to perform capital works on social housing properties in NSW, including approximately:
• 330 bathroom replacements
• 380 kitchen replacements
• 290 roof replacements
• 950 external painting jobs
• 230 window replacements
Mrs Pavey said the $40 million cash-flow injection provides social housing tenants better quality of living and greater comfort and safety, while strengthening the NSW economy.
“Alongside CHPs, we’re improving the quality, comfort and safety of homes for thousands of vulnerable people and families throughout NSW,” Mrs Pavey said.
“This investment is also supporting the local businesses that are supplying workers with the tools, trades and building materials that will give these homes a fresh lick of paint, a new roof or gutter, and much needed bathroom and kitchen replacements.”
Duty MLC for Wagga Wagga, Wes Fang, has welcomed the announcement.
“This funding will not only deliver modern housing upgrades for current and future tenants but also provide an economic boost to our local contractors” Mr Fang said.
“These projects will create local jobs in Wagga Wagga at a time when they’re needed most”.
The NSW Government announced a $200 million maintenance spend in the last year’s budget. This complements the $47 million maintenance stimulus program delivered by LAHC last year, which supported 500 jobs and upgraded 2,200 social housing properties and another 200 buildings, grounds and complexes, in regional and metropolitan NSW.