Tone Wheeler on designing for those in crisis
As many as 50 churches owned by the Uniting Church in metropolitan Sydney alone lie dormant and unused. Meanwhile there is a shortage of crisis and affordable accommodation.
social housing
Social housing is not a bloody-minded numbers game
The truth is, governments have the power to solve social housing shortages and homelessness. But once social housing becomes a bloody-minded numbers game of delays, deficits, and denials, it invariably degenerates into the dark art of political obfuscation.
Government’s HomeBuilder handout doesn’t come cheap
Multiple rooms in the average Australian home would have to be significantly renovated to access the government’s $25,000 HomeBuilder grant, a program aimed at keeping the construction industry afloat as Australia heads into its first recession in almost three decades.
Housing – a chance to make it better. But we better be quick
It’s hard to think of more visceral impact on our sense of wellbeing than the thought of losing our home.
TFE Live: Housing is set for major disruption. How, why, when?
Covid-19 is stirring up the possums and breathing life into old ideas that many Australians of all political shades thought would never see the light of day again.
Housing is not working. Time for a big rethink
The coronavirus pandemic has revealed the precarious state of Australia’s private rental market and put a spotlight on homelessness.
Affordable housing – some small moves to fix a big problem
OXYGEN FILES: Australia is in the midst of a housing crisis and although affordable housing is generally considered a state and federal concern, local governments are now stepping up the plate.
Wales adopts super-insulated, timber design for social housing
HOUSING INNOVATION: New housing designs in Wales use locally grown timber frames and cladding, together with high levels of insulation made from recycled newspaper – a combination that locks up atmospheric carbon in the building form.
Passivhaus social housing project wins Stirling Prize for architecture
A modest Passivehaus social housing estate has scooped up the prestigious RIBA Stirling Prize, one of the most important architectural prizes in the UK.
NSW government celebrates “biggest single transition of social housing tenancies ever”
The NSW government has celebrated the successful transferal of some 14,000 social housing tenancy management tenders to community housing providers.
NHFIC in social housing financing spree includes first construction loans
The National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation has announced more than $85 million in finance for social and affordable housing across NSW.
Queensland winners of Australasian Housing Institution awards announced
Australasian Housing Institution has announced the winners of its Professional Excellence in Housing Award for the state of Queensland.
Gardening improves the health of social housing residents and provides a sense of purpose
Studies indicate spending time in nature brings physical, mental and social benefits.
Norwich aims to become Passivhaus capital of the UK
Norwich, a city of over 200,000 people in the east of England, has set its sights on becoming the Passivhaus capital of the UK.
NSW is overselling its social housing commitment
According to figures published this week the NSW government has over the past few years managed to build more public housing units than it has sold to raise revenue.
Voices of residents missing in a time of crisis for public housing
The 30% increase in the number of homeless people between the 2006 and 2016 censuses is likely to continue in the absence of evidence-based public housing policy.
Lendlease London project on hold after “social cleansing” claims
A $7 billion urban renewal project in north London that was to be developed by Lendlease is now unlikely to proceed following fierce political opposition.
Industry applauds new sustainable public housing at Ivanhoe, but is the model sustainable?
The news has been welcomed by many in the property industry, but it has also raised pertinent questions about just how replicable this model of public housing funding is.
NSW government pushes Newcastle council to fund affordable housing
The NSW government is pushing for 30 affordable housing units to be built along Newcastle’s former rail corridor, but has been accused of “steamrolling” Newcastle City Council into funding it and rezoning land. Planning minister Anthony Roberts was in Newcastle on Tuesday to announce the plan, which hinges on the council putting in $3 million […]
Study of UK public housing transfers to guide successful Australian transfers
From AHURI: A new study on transfers of UK public housing estates to not-for-profit (NFP) housing providers over three decades gives a wealth of information about how similar transactions in Australia could maximise their potential long-term benefits and best support NFP housing sector growth. The UK property transfers created NFP housing providers that are dynamic […]
Passive House social housing at no extra cost – that’s the plan for Melbourne project
A group of investors is using self-managed super funds to develop a social housing project in Melbourne at Passive House standards and at cost parity with conventional social housing.
Community housing gets an efficiency boost with CEFC finance
More than 200 energy efficient low-income and affordable homes are set to be built by not-for-profit community housing provider SGCH under an Australian-first agreement reached with the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.