Parkes Shire Council is bringing together several agencies and community representatives to tackle the lack of social and affordable housing across the region.
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Parkes Shire Councillor Bill Jayet, member of the Parkes/Forbes Community Housing, said “by hosting a forum, we hope to gather local insights and data, to better understand the social and affordable housing climate across both the Parkes and Forbes Shires.”
“This collaborative approach will help us plan for the future and determine what action needs to be taken to better support people in need.”
Catholic Care Wilcannia-Forbes Team Leader, Andrew Bament said “in 2017, over 220 people within the Parkes Shire and 111 within the Forbes Shire identified as being homeless or at risk of homelessness.”
“And these numbers are on the rise. The forum will enable us to work together with similar organisations to address this growing issue at a local level.”
Social housing is secure and affordable rental housing for people on low incomes with housing needs. It includes public, community and Aboriginal housing.
Affordable housing is open to a broader range of household incomes than social housing, so households can earn higher levels of income and still be eligible.
In NSW, there are around 144,400 social dwelling homes with a waitlist of 60,000 households.
Women comprise the largest group of social housing waitlist, with 57% of applicants on the waitlist and 61% of existing tenancies. Women over 55 represent 9% of the waitlist.
The Parkes Social and Affordable Housing Forum will be held in the Council Chambers on Thursday, October 11 commencing at 9am.
