Overview
Affordable housing has become an issue for local government in recent times. The impacts of housing affordability impacts on a variety of people in society including:
- Homeless
- Key workers
- Welfare services
Strategic Plan
Affordable housing is informed by outcome A of the
Strategic Plan: local governments will be strong leaders of their municipalities and deliver excellence in governance. They will be the leading force in promoting sustainable and engaged communities.
VLGA Approach
The VLGA has been committed to raising the profile of housing affordability in the local government sector. This has occurred through advocating for the provision of Affordable Housing and through the involvement in building the capacity of local governments to deliver this.
This is discussed in further depth in:
The VLGA has recently completed a brief discussion paper on the regulation and monitoring of rooming houses in local government areas.
Current Activity
The VLGA Affordable Housing Working Group focuses on the need for joined-up approaches to housing affordability and homelessness issues.
Supporting the Call this a home campaign
This campaign is highlighting the need for regulation and monitoring of rooming house provision to ensure standard of rooming house accommodation are of a high standard.
This project involves Department of Human Services and six local government municipalities working in partnership to pilot housing projects.
The municipalities are:
- Darebin
- Manningham
- Maribyrnong
- Swan Hill (for Robinvale)
- Surf Coast
- Wodonga
The aim of the project is as follows:
- Improved understanding of local housing needs
- Improved understanding of affordable housing opportunities within councils, State Government and other key stakeholders
- Improved council capacity to facilitate affordable housing development
- Partnerships fostered between government, not-for-profit developers and private industry to deliver affordable housing projects.
- Possible impact of alternative policy settings better understood
The VLGA is also developing and delivering Housing Road Shows which are forums for local governments to highlight the importance of partnerships between local government, community and developers.
Contact
Policy & Project Officer
Dr Rebecca Barlow
T: +61 3 9349 7941
E:
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