National Shelter supports public housing investment push

National Shelter supports calls from The Greens, urging the Federal Government to increase Public Housing investment by $2 billion.

National Shelter Chairperson, Adrian Pisarski, said that investment in public housing would help to stimulate the economy, as well as strengthen the National Affordable Housing Agreement (NAHA).

“Public housing is the missing element of the NAHA, which was handed down at the COAG meeting late last year. People on the lowest incomes are doing it toughest and need this boost, either through public housing or capital funding for community housing.”

“The Rudd Government needs to utilise this opportunity to invest in both public housing and stimulation of the economy,” Mr Pisarski said.  

Mr Pisarski also said that while National Shelter would support the rumoured expansion of the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS), he believes public housing is a more critical investment at this time.

“NRAS is undeniably a successful scheme, however, it was not intended to operate without support in the form of a public housing boost as well,” he said.

“Public housing still provides the greatest support to the most needy over the longest period and has been slashed by previous governments,” he added.

“NRAS is already ambitious enough in scope in light of changes in the finance, credit, and investment markets.

“NRAS will benefit from a long term plan, however, at this stage funding needs to be invested in the construction of public housing,” Mr Pisarski continued.

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Adrian Pisarski, Chairperson on 0417 975 270

Jasmine McCormack, Communications Officer on 0430 227 787