In a first for South Australia, the state’s government has announced it will create the Housing and Homelessness Strategy Taskforce, to improve housing options for the community.
The Taskforce, made up of key representatives and stakeholders from the housing sector and industry, had its inaugural meeting on 1 February.
The main focus of this meeting was affordable housing and ideas on how to improve housing options for the community.
The Taskforce will be chaired by SA Housing Trust Board Presiding Member, Gary Storkey.
Its members include:
- April Lawrie, Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People
- Andrew Cairns, Chief Executive Officer – Community Sector Banking
- Daniel Gannon, Executive Director, Property Council of Australia
- Greg Throughton, Chief Executive, Real Estate Institute of SA
- Helen Dyer, Deputy Presiding Member, State Commission Assessment Panel
- Maria Hagias, CEO Women’s Safety Services SA
- Mel Blondell, Board Chair, Access 2 Place
- Michael Lennon, Managing Director, Housing Choices Australia
- Simon Schrapel, Chief Executive, Uniting Communities
SA Minister for Human Services, Michelle Lensink, said the meeting was an important milestone in the development of a new Housing and Homelessness Strategy for South Australia.
“About 60 per cent of South Australian households are on low to moderate incomes, yet many find it difficult to purchase or rent an affordable home,” said Ms Lensink.
“We want to work with industry to make more housing options available, especially for lower income families.
“Affordable housing gives people the stability they need to participate in the community, and so underpins the state’s economy and population growth.
“The Taskforce will consider, amongst other things, how best to improve affordable housing options for people on low and moderate incomes, including private rental and homeownership.
“The development of our new Housing and Homelessness Strategy will be a genuine partnership between government and the housing sector, to find shared solutions to shared challenges.”
Community consultation will be undertaken as part of development of the new strategy later in 2019.
