Push to build community housing in Canberra - ABC Online

Updated November 13, 2013 14:15:16

The ACT Government is being urged to do more to encourage community housing projects in the capital.

With median rents in the ACT the highest in the country, housing affordability is an acute problem.

Waiting lists for public housing continue to grow and so too does the number of people facing rental stress.

Community housing, which is run by not-for-profit groups, can help to fill the gap in the affordable housing market.

But Leigh Watson from ACT Shelter says there are only 500 community housing dwellings in Canberra.

"In the big scheme of things, it's not a huge amount of housing," she said.

"It's not really doing much to impact on those on low-moderate incomes."

Ms Watson says the Government needs to develop a strategic plan for community housing to encourage more projects.

She says the ACT has the highest proportion of public housing of any state or territory, but it lacks affordable housing options for those on a low-moderate income.

"We're suggesting the Government look at this problem and certainly look at the solution that community housing might be able to provide," she said.

ACT Shelter wants to see more innovative partnerships involving the private sector and investors.

"We want the Government to look at some innovative ways to add some community housing into the mix," Ms Watson said.

She says the Territory is lagging behind other states.

"In other states and territories there are some clever models where they're working in partnership with community housing providers, investors and banks ... in order to provide a mix of housing," she said.

"At the very minimum the ACT should have a strategy. It may be that what's happening in other states and territories is not suitable for Canberra, but we think it should at least be investigated."

Housing Minister Shane Rattenbury agrees but says the provision of more community housing should not be at the expense of the poorest in the community.

"The challenge for the Government is simply building more stock. If the Government was to simply transfer its stock across the community housing providers we've not increased the number of houses, we've still got the same number of houses, we're just shuffling them around," he said.

"So there is a danger there in seeing that as a silver bullet."

Topics: housing, community-organisations, act, canberra-2600

First posted November 13, 2013 10:06:05