By Oliver Lees
Hume council has endorsed an affordable housing policy in a bid to address the municipality’s plummeting share of low-cost housing options.
At a meeting on Monday, councillors voted to adopt the policy, which lays out Hume’s priorities in pursuing more affordable real estate options for low income earners.
According to data presented at the meeting, Hume’s affordable rental housing stock has nosedived from 75 per cent availability of properties for low and very low-income households in 2005 to just 7.2 per cent availability in 2019.
The officer’s report also identified Hume council as an area with a “high and fast growing” number of people on the Victorian Housing Register who are seeking approval for social housing.
Cr Naim Kurt said the policy before council was “groundbreaking” and that it would provide relief to the growing number of residents in need of housing options.
“As we know, our residents are more likely, far more likely, to need affordable housing compared to the rest of Melbourne,” Cr Kurt said.
“More than half of the existing social housing stock in Hume is more than 30 years old and requires significant investment or upgrades or replacement.
“I’m really pleased to say that we will be acting, not just as an advocate in this area, but also as a decision maker and a facilitator, as well.”
Last week Star Weekly reported that 35 affordable houses will be built in Sunbury as part of the state government’s Big Housing Build, which has been designed to address an identified shortage of housing for low income earners in Victoria.
The affordable housing policy adopted by council details that council will advocate for more funding in this area.
Cr Bell said affordable housing was particularly important for individuals and families that don’t qualify for public housing but still need assistance “getting their foot on the first rung” of the housing market.
“Time and time and time again, I hear from my peers, my friends, from all across our city saying just how absolutely unobtainable it is to get into the housing market,” Cr Bell said.
