The NSW Government will receive $610 million from the Federal Government through the recently announced $2 billion Social Housing Accelerator Fund Payment.

The funding will help the State Government deliver thousands of new social homes across the State.

States and territories will have flexibility in how they permanently boost social housing stock, including through new builds, expanding existing programs, renovating, or refurbishing existing but currently uninhabitable housing stock.

Federal Member for Robertson, Dr Gordon Reid MP, has welcomed this funding announcement and calls on the NSW State Government to not overlook the Central Coast region.

“On the Central Coast, we are experiencing high demand for rental properties, where supply is not keeping pace”, Dr Reid said.

“This is putting upward pressure on rental prices and creating challenging conditions for young and vulnerable people accessing the housing market”.

“The region is also suffering from an acute shortage of housing, including homes, townhouses, and apartments”, Dr Reid said.

“I have written to the NSW Housing Minister, The Hon. Rose Jackson MLC, to urge her not to overlook the Central Coast region when it comes to distributing these funds across NSW”.

“I will continue to keep my community updated on the outcome of this representation”, Dr Reid said.

According to data from the Department of Families and Community Services, the Central Coast has 1500 people on the waitlist, with an average wait time of 10 years to get a social housing property.

Dr Reid has reflected on the Albanese Labor Government’s Housing Australia Future Fund which will help build more social and affordable housing.

“The Federal Government is trying to address the housing crisis by establishing the Housing Australia Future Fund. Disappointingly, the Liberals and The Greens have formed a coalition to stall the legislation’s passage through the Senate”, Dr Reid said.

“The Liberals and The Greens are choosing to play political shenanigans rather than assist the Federal Government provide solutions for the nation’s housing crisis”.

Dr Reid is encouraging the Central Coast community to contact Liberal and Greens’ Members of State and Federal Parliaments to tell them to stop blocking progress.

Dr Reid has also established an online petition and is calling on the community’s support.

To support the petition, visit: https://www.drgordonreidmp.com.au/our-coast-community/housing-for-the-central-coast-petition/

For more information about the Albanese Government’s Housing Australia Future Fund, visit: https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/julie-collins-2022/media-releases/housing-australia-future-fund-draft-legislation

ENDS