Not acceptable: Homelessness advocates blast Minns government for housing reform go-slow

Homelessness advocates have slammed the Minns government for an “unacceptable” go-slow on short-term accommodation reform, saying the delay is exacerbating the state’s homelessness crisis.

Homelessness advocates have blasted the Minns government for an “unacceptable” go-slow on short-term accommodation reform, saying the delay is exacerbating the state’s housing crisis.

Nearly one year after the NSW government conducted a review into regulations around short-term accommodation providers such as Airbnb, Expedia and Stayz, no report has been written with stakeholders kept in the dark about any progress.

The review was intended to look at ways property owners could be encouraged to rent properties out on long term leases rather than listing them on Airbnb, as one method to address the state’s housing shortage.

Homelessness advocates say the Minns government’s “go-slow” on short term accommodation reform is unacceptable in the face of increasing homelessness. Picture: AAP / Danny Aarons

In a sensational letter sent to the NSW housing and planning ministers on Friday, Homelessness NSW chief executive Dominique Rowe expressed the frustration of the state’s homelessness services that no action had been taken.

“This type of go-slow approach is not acceptable,” she wrote.

“The housing and homelessness crisis is severe and devastating. Every day you delay is another day that people are forced to sleep in cars and tents, another day that women and children are trapped in unsafe homes because they have nowhere else to go.”

Homelessness advocates say the Minns government’s “go-slow” on short term accommodation reform is unacceptable in the face of increasing homelessness Picture: AAP / Flavio Brancaleone

In March last year, the government received more than 430 submissions and upwards of 2400 survey responses as it sought public feedback for the review.

Ms Rowe said more than 12 months later, no further information had been published or stakeholders updated as to any future decisions around reform.

It is understood that no report containing findings or recommendations from the review has even been written, with the government having no intention of ever releasing a report.

Housing and Homelessness Minister Rose Jackson said the government was still considering a range of regulatory options for short term accommodation. Picture: Ted Lamb

Ms Rowe told The Daily Telegraph that while no decisions had been made, the number of people seeking the help of homelessness services had skyrocketed, as had social housing waitlist numbers.

“We put in a detailed submission to this inquiry that had the signatures of 73 homelessness services, so at the very least we’d expect a report,” she said.

“It’s very disappointing at the very least not to have that feedback.”

Rough sleepers have surged by 51 per cent in the last four years, while in the last year 67,900 people sought help from homelessness services with thousands turned away due to a lack of homes.

Homelessness NSW has been seeking a levy on revenue collected by short-term accommodation providers, similar to the 7.5 per cent that was introduced by the Victorian government in January this year.

Opposition Homelessness spokeswoman Natasha Maclaren-Jones. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Under the new Victorian system, providers are required to pay a 7.5 per cent levy on total booking fees for stays that are less than 28 consecutive days. The funding gained from the levy is then funnelled into social and affordable housing projects.

Ms Rowe said such a policy was needed to support underfunded homelessness providers.

Housing and Homelessness Minister Rose Jackson said the government was still considering a range of regulatory options for short-term accommodation including day caps, levies and stricter reporting rules.

“All options remain on the table, and we’ll have more to say soon,” she said.

Opposition homelessness spokeswoman Natasha Maclaren-Jones said it was unacceptable the government had made no decision since the review.

“They have no solutions and rather than making decisions and taking action on serious issues like homelessness, the Minns government is just about announcements of reviews,” she said.

“They are treating us like fools hoping no one will notice that nothing is being done.”

Originally published as Not acceptable: Homelessness advocates blast Minns government for housing reform go-slow