Tweed Shire Council seeks urgent community feedback on new strategy amid affordable housing crisis
The ugly reality of the Tweed’s affordable housing crisis has been revealed in alarming new data, with council seeking urgent community input on a strategy it hopes will tackle the problem.
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The ugly reality of the Tweed’s affordable housing crisis has been revealed in alarming new statistics, with council seeking urgent community input on a strategy it hopes will tackle the problem.
Tweed Shire Council said on Thursday without intervention there would be a shortfall of up to 4885 affordable social and affordable homes in the region by 2041.
The concerning figures prompted the council to ask the community for feedback on its draft Affordable Housing Strategy, which came as a response to “unprecedented pressures on housing affordability and accessibility to affordable rental housing”.
“The current shortfall for social housing is 1118 dwellings and 2665 for affordable housing dwellings. Without intervention by 2041 it is estimated up to 4885 dwellings will be required,” a spokesperson for the council said.
“The draft Tweed Affordable Housing Strategy is being developed alongside the Tweed Growth Management and Housing Strategy, which looks at how the region can accommodate population growth and employment opportunities for the Tweed to 2041.
“When completed, the strategy will give clear direction to proponents and community housing providers on how to unlock new opportunities for affordable housing.”
The strategy will include measures on how to boost affordable units, which include a mandated target of 10 per cent of affordable housing for new housing developments within certain areas, the council said.
It will also include forging partnerships with non-profit organisations and developers to improve availability and accessibility, exploring approaches to address housing shortages and monitoring and reporting on the progress of social and affordable projects, including the number of units built, timelines and community impacts.
Tweed Mayor Chris Cherry said housing reform was a top priority for the council.
“With only 2.9 per cent of homes in the Tweed being social and affordable, and 47 per cent of renter households under rental stress, it’s clear affordable housing supply is out of step with our community’s needs,” she said.
“This strategy represents significant progress in trying to address the housing crisis and ensuring that everyone in the Tweed has a place to call home.
“Council does not build homes but we can implement policy to require a percentage of homes to be affordable and we can encourage the building of homes to start to fill this gap.
“We need homes that our service workers, baristas and cleaners can afford. Without this, we will not be a strong, resilient community.”
The council has asked residents to review the draft Tweed Affordable Housing Strategy and provide input before 4pm on Wednesday, August 7.
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