CWA branch calls for action on affordable housing

Umina Beach branch of the Country Women's Association is calling for action on social and affordable housing in rural and regional NSW as part of a state-wide awareness campaign undertaken by the Association.

The campaign has an emphasis on women over 55, the fastest growing cohort of homeless people in Australia.

Branch president Ms Rikki McIntosh will be having a sleep-out this week at her home to raise money for homeless women.

The funds raised will go towards buying swags for Mary Macs to donate to those in need.

Ms McIntosh is asking for donations to support the campaign.

Through its Awareness Week, the Association was supporting recommendations from a raft of community housing providers for greater funding.

Ms McIntosh said the housing providers were wanting a dedicated fund for the provision of social housing properties, greater investment in a comprehensive maintenance program across existing social housing properties, and more consideration of the need in rural and regional NSW.

They have asked for new strategies and reforms that could improve overall housing affordability across the state, and superannuation reforms and improvements to the rental assistance scheme that would assist low-income earners, particularly financially-vulnerable older women.

"We support community housing providers who are pleading for more to be done to help the state's most vulnerable citizens," said Ms McIntosh.

"We acknowledge governments at all levels are committing resources towards social and affordable housing, but it is not keeping pace with the current demand, and the demand expected in the future.

"Housing affordability is an issue of real urgency for communities right across NSW.

Covid-19 restrictions have actually prompted many people in our large cities to look to the regions for a change of lifestyle, which has had the effect of pushing up housing prices in these areas and impacting locals who are either looking to get into the housing market, or looking for somewhere to rent," Ms McIntosh said.

Donations for Ms McIntosh's sleep-out can be arranged by emailing cwaofnswuminabeach@gmail.com.

SOURCE:

Media release, 15 Sep 2021

Margaret Key, CWA Umina Beach