Rebecca Pinkstone has been named the inaugural Chief Executive of Homes NSW, the new Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) division established by the NSW government to drive change in the housing and homelessness sectors.
Homes NSW will combine the Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC), Aboriginal Housing Office (AHO), and relevant social and affordable housing and homelessness functions within Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) to create a new agency to streamline services. It comes into operation on February 1, 2024 when Ms Pinkstone starts in the new role.
A DCJ spokesperson told the SSH that the heads of LAHC, AHO and former DCJ Housing will report to the Homes NSW Chief Executive. This position is similar to a Deputy Secretary, and it will report to the Secretary of DCJ.
The government says the new agency is tasked to deliver better outcomes for social and affordable housing tenants and applicants, boost affordable and social housing supply, and help reduce the rate of homelessness across NSW. It will help rebuild and restructure the social and affordable housing system, to create a seamless approach with a focus on people front and centre.
Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Rose Jackson, said: “Homes NSW puts people at the heart of housing and will cut red tape by forming a single entity to deliver new social and affordable housing and assist people in need to get a roof over their heads. I am thrilled that someone with Rebecca’s skills, experience and passion for social and affordable housing will be driving reform in the sector to ensure more people have access to safe and stable homes.”
Rebecca Pinkstone has spent the past 17 years working in social and affordable housing. For the last nine years she has been at Bridge Housing with the last two years as CEO. She is also a Director and current Chair of CHIA NSW.
Prior to joining Bridge, Rebecca held a number of senior roles in Housing NSW, including prior to the splitting of LAHC from Family and Community Services under the Liberal government. It was during LAHC’s time in Services NSW, from 2011 to 2013, and the subsequent reintegration that LAHC lost a lot of experience and expertise.
Rebecca Pinkstone is known to many in the inner city through her roles at Bridge Housing which operates housing and holds event in the inner city. Bridge’s office was located in Redfern until the redevelopment of the TNT Towers. More recently, Bridge Housing was successful in becoming LAHC’s development partner for the Elizabeth Street/PCYC site development and Rebecca has been involved locally in community engagement sessions around that project.
In the media statement Rebecca said: “I am excited about this incredible opportunity to deliver more social and affordable housing and a better experience for residents” and that she was “looking forward to the challenge”.
There are many challenges across public, social and affordable housing and with the agencies Homes NSW will bring together. This will be a huge challenge. The appointment of Rebecca Pinkstone as the Homes NSW Chief Executive seems like a good start, and we wish her well in the challenging role.
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Geoffrey Turnbull is the Spokesperson for REDWatch.
