G21

Acknowledgement Of Country

G21 acknowledges and pays its respects to Wadawurrung, Gulidjan and Gadubanud Elders past, present and emerging.

We recognise their deep connection to the lands and waterways across the G21 region.

We acknowledge their custodianship for thousands of years, their advocacy and continuing care of country.

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Housing in G21 – regional taskforce

PROJECT / Health & Wellbeing Pillar

The G21 region is growing, which means the demand for housing is growing too.

The cost of buying or renting a house is increasing at a much higher rate that increases in incomes.

This broadening gap is driving housing insecurity and homelessness.

G21 is working with all five councils, housing agencies, state government, developers and philanthropists to understand the impact of this widening gap:

Health & wellbeing Families and individuals spending more than 30%, 40% or even 50% of their income on a house are at risk of poor physical, emotional and spiritual health outcomes
Our economy The widening gap in our region is affecting jobs – as people cannot afford to live in some areas, even though there are jobs available
Planning for the future Planning for a rapidly growing population means we need to plan for more housing and services – the widening gap makes this planning much more difficult

The Victorian Government is aware of rising housing costs and is implementing the Big Housing Build – an ambitious plan to spend $5.3 billion on 12,000 subsidised housing properties within four years. To find out more about this major initiative go the Homes Victoria website at: https://www.vic.gov.au/homes-victoria

Homes Victoria are focussing on ‘social housing’ – which is subsidised to ensure that households pay no more than 30% of their income on rent. This subsidised social housing is provided for households on very modest income because this income level is often not enough to pay for full private rental. In some areas of our region private rental properties are both unaffordable and in very short supply, almost unavailable.

People living on very modest income may be living on benefits (such as a Disability Benefit or Department of Veterans Affairs Pension) or work in low paid employment, with limited hours of work available.

The Housing in G21 Taskforce has purchased data which reveals the demand for subsidised housing as an alternative to high cost private rental. There is a problem in each council area:

CoGG COS GPS BoQ SCS G21
Households currently renting social housing (number) 3,305 290 8 11 62 3,676
Rental stress with moderate, low or very low income levels 4,309 282 96 41 287 5,015
Homeless people (number) 750 62 17 6 48 883
Number of additional social housing properties required to meet the current shortfall 5,059 344 113 47 335 5,898

ABS census data 2016.

This data indicates that we need to build around 6,000 new homes just to meet the needs of people currently renting, on very modest income, and paying more than 30% of that income on private rent. These are families and individuals already living in our community.

As a community, we need to build many more than 6,000 homes to meet the needs of our rapidly growing population. We also need to focus on housing that is affordable for people who are working and earning money but are not able to afford the extremely high costs of private rental in many areas across the region.

This form of housing is called ‘key worker housing’ – some jobs are critical to our economy and yet people employed in these jobs can no longer afford to live near where they work. There is a shortfall of hundreds of key worker homes.

To explore detailed data relating to housing affordability in both the rental and purchasing market click here https://housing.id.com.au/g21-region

Each council in the region has published statements regarding the need for additional subsidised social housing and support services for tenants:

  • City of Greater Geelong
  • Colac Otway Shire
  • Golden Plains Shire
  • Borough of Queenscliffe
  • Surf Coast Shire

G21 acknowledges the commitment of Sirovilla, which has secured funding from the Percy Baxter Trust, the Anthony Costa Foundation and Geelong Community Foundation to make this project possible.

The project has developed some useful resources:

RESOURCES

  • What is social housing? A one page overview explaining the terms and background to social housing.
  • The Big Picture  A snapshot of key data relating to social housing in our region, including a comparison across our five council areas
  • Our Mayors speak out A brief video featuring all five mayors outlining plans for social housing in the region
  • G21 Regional Statement An overview of key regional, state and national issues relating to social and affordable housing, including a regional framework
  • Support for developers An information tool for developers seeking information and ideas that ensure social housing projects are planned as early as possible in any development
  • Submission on the 10-year state strategy  The G21 contribution to the state-wide consultation regarding the long term future of social housing policy, funding and regulation

 

USEFUL LINKS

Homes Victoria https://www.vic.gov.au/homes-victoria

State Housing Registrar https://www.vic.gov.au/housing-registrar

Sirovilla https://www.sirovilla.org.au/

Anthony Costa Foundation https://www.costaam.com.au/partners-foundation/

Percy Baxter Trust https://www.baxtercharitabletrusts.org.au/

Geelong Community Foundation https://www.geelongfoundation.org/

 

Housing in G21 – regional taskforce

PROJECT NEWS

$38 million social and affordable housing success

Health and Wellbeing Pillar 15/09/2021
G21 welcomes the Victorian Government’s $27.9 million investment in social and affordable housing in the region which will deliver around 100 new ho ...
Read More

Sustainable housing providing hope for homelessness

Health and Wellbeing Pillar 13/10/2021
Men experiencing homelessness across Geelong will now have access to more emergency housing options. Samaritan House has unveiled seven new environ ...
Read More

Colac Otway land sale will boost affordable housing stock

14/04/2021
Colac Otway Shire Council will move to sell vacant land in Colac’s Bruce Street, in hopes of boosting housing stock for the city. Major industrie ...
Read More

$2.7B CONSTRUCTION BLITZ TO STIMULATE ECONOMIC RECOVERY

Economic Development Pillar 20/05/2020
The State Government has announced a $2.7 billion construction blitz to stimulate the Victorian economy and create thousands of jobs. This include ...
Read More

G21 submission to 10 Year Social & Affordable Housing Strategy

Health and Wellbeing Pillar 14/04/2021
G21 has made a submission to the state government on a 10-year strategy designed to increase access to social and affordable housing in Victoria. T ...
Read More
Link to: Cultural & Economic Development

Culture & Economic Development

Link to: First Nations Pillar

First Nations Conversation

Link to: Health & Wellbeing

Health & Wellbeing

Link to: Sustainability

Sustainability

Link to: Transport & Planning

Transport & Planning

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CONTACT G21

  • (03) 5270 3688

55-67 Ryrie St, Geelong VIC 3220
More contact info

G21 acknowledges our region’s Traditional Owners, the Wadawarrung and Eastern Maar people who have cared for this land for thousands of years. Sharing the beauty and joy of these lands and waterways is a privilege; we pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future.
G21 welcomes people of an ability, culture, religion, sex, gender, sexuality and age.

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