The community housing sector, business leaders and members of the public rallied for change at the Confront the Crisis forum on February 22 in Western Sydney. Urgent action is needed to tackle the housing crisis with shocking figures revealing a damning 57,750 individuals and families on the social housing list in NSW, a 15% increase in the past year alone. The hardest hit areas include Western Sydney, where there has been an 8% increase in the number of people sitting on the social housing waitlist amounting to 18,377 individuals and families, of which many have been waiting for a house for over 10 years.  

Notable speakers in attendance included, David Borger, Executive Director of Business Western Sydney and Board Member to Evolve Housing, Lyall Gorman, CEO of Evolve Housing, Nicola Lemon, CEO of Hume Housing, and Ryan van den Nouwelant, a Researcher from UNSW City Futures. 

Hosted by the CEO of Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA) NSW Mark Degotardi, the event saw a total of over 60 people attend. Evolve Housing residents George, Todd and Bruce shared their heartfelt stories and experiences of getting off the streets and finding help with Evolve Housing. As George said, “I knew there were lifesavers in the water, but I didn’t know there were lifesavers on land until I met Evolve Housing”. His story was met with applause and the realisation that more needs to be done to help those in a similar situation. 

With the State Election coming up on March 25, it was evident that politicians need to do more to tackle the housing crisis as well as the rental increase. Lyall Gorman, CEO of Evolve Housing, said it is unfair that Western Sydney is bearing the brunt of the housing crisis emergency. 

“Western Sydney is at the epicentre of Sydney’s housing crisis emergency. Too many families are being left behind, struggling to keep a roof over their heads as cost-of-living pressures skyrocket,” he said.  

“We need our political leaders to stand up and show they really care for struggling people in Western Sydney by making tangible and long-term investment in social and affordable housing.” 

David Borger, Executive Director of Business Western Sydney and Board Member to Evolve Housing stressed that everyone should have the right to have a roof over their heads and if the matter is not addressed it will only get worse. 

“There is a need for the business community to partner with the housing sector to drive community awareness of this issue and build political pressure for governments to take more action,” Mr Borger said.

“With interest rates and costs of housing and land on the rise, this problem will only grow larger. Everyone should have the right to housing.”

Mark Degotardi, CEO of Community Housing Industry Association NSW said the figures coming out of Western Sydney is putting politicians on notice to do more for housing.  

“Politicians from across the political spectrum are on notice; fixing the state’s housing crisis is a top priority for voters. Especially for residents in Western Sydney,” he said.  

“People are struggling just to keep a roof over their heads. Rents are soaring at the same time as vacancy rates are plummeting. This is a housing crisis, and it deserves an emergency response. Governments cannot relegate this crisis to the ‘too hard’ basket’. 

“Investment in social and affordable housing to be delivered by community housing providers is the key. It will get people off the waiting list, and into long-term, secure homes.   

Evolve Housing, Business Western Sydney and CHIA would like to thank all those in attendance and for your ongoing support. We look forward to making a change for those who need it.