Page 513 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 18 February 2015

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Some 75.7 per cent of ACT public housing tenants said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the service they received, against a national average of 72.7 per cent. The ACT’s central intake service for all inquiries related to homelessness means that we know better than any other jurisdiction the extent of homelessness in our territory and what supports these people need.

Overall, the ROGS results support the need and value of the ACT government’s long-term program to renew public housing to provide modern homes to meet the needs of tenants. While there is no doubt that pressures on social housing and homelessness services are increasing across the country, in the ACT we have a clear picture of the extent of demand on homelessness services. We are responding to that demand by ensuring that those most in need receive the support they need and renewing our public housing stock.

The ROGS data also allows us to see areas where action is needed. The government is investing in the renewal of public housing so that it better meets tenants’ needs now and into the future and improves the overall quality of our housing stock. This program of work is guided by the public housing asset management strategy 2012-17, in particular the following ACT government objectives to: reduce concentrations of disadvantage through public housing redevelopment; align the portfolio with changing social structures and tenant needs; respond to environmental standards, particularly in the areas of energy and water efficiency; leverage the asset base through innovative development models; and use the value of the asset to assist in restructuring the portfolio.

It is important for tenants and the wider community to know that this is a long-term process. This is not about evicting people from their homes. No tenant will be made homeless as a result of this government’s renewal program. We will continue to work with each and every tenant affected by the process to determine their needs and preferences and to provide them with suitable accommodation options.

The renewal of public housing involves delivering an accelerated renewal program of public housing along the Northbourne corridor and other multi-housing unit properties outside the corridor. Ms Lawder is right to say that these are people’s homes. In the first week that I was appointed housing minister I said that we needed to stop talking about these people and start talking with them. So I did, and I will continue to do that.

We will continue to redevelop larger public housing complexes, maintaining our salt and peppering approach; build homes that meet the needs of tenants, be they older people, mums and dads with kids or people with disability; improve the energy efficiency of public housing and use of accessible design, which is particularly important for people on low incomes and for people with disabilities; and reduce the burden of old stock that requires costly maintenance, and design new stock that has a lower maintenance requirement in the future.

It is interesting to note how the investment being made by the ACT government into housing and services is in stark contrast to the position of the current federal Liberal government. One of my first tasks when I took on the role of ACT Minister for Housing was to make formal representations to the federal Minister for Social Services seeking funding certainty for the services in this sector.


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