Today, Evolve Housing attended the “Home Truths: In Conversation” event which called for immediate action to increase supply of social and affordable housing in Western Sydney.  

The “Home Truths: The Real Housing Story in Western Sydney” report, authored by Policy and Strategy lead at Western Sydney University’s Tom Nance, revealed new data and insights that are needed to address the current housing crisis.  

The report reveals that social and affordable housing in the Western Sydney region only meets 44% of demand at present, with an estimated shortfall of nearly 76,000 dwellings. Without immediate action, this gap will blowout to a deficit of more than 160,000 homes by 2041. 

It also found the proportion of individuals and families in social housing was higher in Western Sydney, at 5.3% compared to 3.0% for the rest of Sydney. Western Sydney has a significantly higher proportion of households with a mortgage (35.4%) compared to the rest of Sydney (28.5%). 

 Tom Nance, Policy and Strategy lead at Western Sydney University

These figures stress that the availability of safe, secure and affordable housing is not only affecting those most vulnerable, but rather the wider community who are struggling with the soaring cost-of-living. Key workers feel that they are being left behind as the majority of their pay cheque goes toward the rent as rents have increased well over 11% in the last 12 months.  

Speaking at the event, Mr Nance called for five immediate items to be actioned in order to tackle the impeding housing crisis that is affecting Australians. These five items include: define affordable housing, adopt clear targets, get the mix right, house key workers and track the impact.  

Evolve Housing understands the dire need for more housing across the country, particularly for communities in Western Sydney. We welcome collaboration from all levels of government, local councils, private sector, developers and financiers, superannuation funds to work in partnership with the community housing sector to assist those most in need.   

Read the Home Truths: The Real Housing Story in Western Sydney report here: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/2012349/Home_Truths_FINAL.pdf