Dr Louise Crabtree from the University of Western Sydney’s Institute for Culture and Society described affordable housing as the “bridge” between public and private housing.
There are many different styles of affordable housing. Typically, rents are assigned as 30 per cent of gross tenant income although this is not always the case. An alternative is to set rents at 75 per cent of market rates which is not practical or affordable for most, if not all, of the low-income workers it is supposed to aid.
Affordable housing is topical in Waterloo because although the state government has announced plans to redevelop public housing in the area with a proposed 70 per-cent private and 30 per-cent public mix, they have not announced any concrete plans to develop more affordable housing. The private rental market is far too expensive for ordinary people but public housing has income limits.
Where do people go when they improve their circumstances just enough to breach these limits? There is no incentive for improvement because if a tenant earns a little more but loses their public housing entitlement, they may have literally nowhere to go.
Mel, a single parent of two children who has recently become a tenant in affordable housing in Darlington spoke about her experiences. Mel praised the positive environment that City West housing had provided. Before she moved to her new location, between rent and childcare she had just $200 a week to cover all other expenses for herself and her two children. Working in the city, cheaper accommodation in the outer suburbs was negated because of the cost and time of travelling. Living close to work means Mel has everything within walking distance and does not need to own a car. Living in suitable affordable housing means that Mel and her family are not living from week to week and can make plans for the future.
Mel and her fellow tenants are ordinary people, working and trying to get ahead, and affordable housing makes it possible.
