Need for more social housing in Port Stephens as demand skyrockets

Nicola Lemon, chief executive officer of Hume Community Housing, one of the largest community housing providers in Australia, said they were unable to meet the demand for social housing in Port Stephens.

"The vacancy rate in the private rental market in Port Stephens is down to 0.7 per cent That's the lowest vacancy rate I've seen in my 25 year career. That means of all the private rental properties on the market, 0.7 per cent are available at any given time for let," she said.

"What's happening is that people who would ordinarily secure private rental properties are applying for anywhere between 50 to 200 properties - anything that's coming up basically - and they're not getting into those properties and we're starting to see a different customer base coming through our door because they just can't access the private rental market.

"People on low incomes also can't afford the house and unit prices to buy in Port Stephens so we're seeing increasing demand for our services. Across the Port Stephens and Maitland LGAs in the past financial year we've provided 950 households with temporary accommodation. That's 950 individual households that have presented to us as being homeless."

Hume manages 794 social housing tenancy and rental properties in Port Stephens.

The current wait time to secure a social housing property in Port Stephens is 10 years.

Ms Lemon said the social housing issue had been compounded by the pandemic and the housing boom which has pushed up the price of rent in regional NSW.

"As housing markets boom what happens is that landlords with private rental properties are now thinking 'we'll capitalise on this boom, we'll sell our property' so there's less private rental properties on the market and those that are available are less affordable," she said.

"The pressure on the housing market and on services is creating a lot of social challenges."

There are more than 50,000 families on the social housing waiting list in NSW.

In the most recent state budget, the NSW Government allocated $366 million to fund the build of new 400 social housing units and provide for maintenance works on thousands of others - about one-twelfth of what advocates say is needed each year to meet demand.

In the budget, NSW Land and Housing Corporation was allocated $67,000 for social housing maintenance in Port Stephens - a sum that state MP Kate Washington said was "hardly enough".

"Homelessness is a growing problem in our community, and we need more social and affordable housing to keep local families off the street," the Port Stephens MP said.

"After all the community campaigning and the desperate pleas from local families, the Liberal Government allocated Port Stephens a measly $67,000 for social housing."

The Examiner contacted NSW Land and Housing Corporation for comment but did not receive a reply by the time the paper went to print on Tuesday.

Ms Lemon said there was a "real need" to upgrade many of the properties in Port Stephens.

"The age of a majority of properties in the Port Stephens and Maitland LGAs mean that there are significant upgrades needed. Where we can advocate for more funds for the portfolio we absolutely will," she said.

Hume carried out a $4 million upgrade to 70 properties across Port Stephens and Maitland in June.

On July 1, Hume took over the maintenance and repair responsibility of the Hunter's 2200 social housing properties leased from the NSW Land and Housing Corporation.

Hume has appointed Kingston Building Australia and Programmed to deliver maintenance services which includes lawns and grounds, essential building services and annual compliance services such as smoke alarms.

"By continuing to work and partner with local businesses we are supporting regional trade and creating jobs. this will again act as an economic stimulus for the Hunter," Ms Lemon said.

"In taking control of maintenance management for our Hunter properties we intend to deliver a very positive customer experience, whilst ensuring Hume drive value for money and quality through our new contracts."

Hume customers have been advised of the changes to contractors and introduced to a new maintenance booking system.

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