One of the largest providers of affordable rental housing in NSW, Hume Community Housing, is responding to the housing crisis, today announcing they will expand their footprint to the Central Coast following a significant land purchase in Wyong.
Hume has purchased a 3,160m2 block on Jennings Road and will look to build up to 20 townhouses offering both Social and Affordable rental housing.
The land purchase was made possible thanks to a partnership with the NSW Department of Communities and Justice, who have contributed a grant from the Community Housing Innovation Fund (CHIF). This grant scheme encourages community housing providers such as Hume to invest in delivering projects to increase affordable housing supply in key areas of need.
Hume CEO Brad Braithwaite says the organisation is stepping up its role as a developer of affordable housing in the Greater Sydney and Hunter Regions.
"Hume has undergone extraordinary growth over the past five years, nearly doubling in size since 2019. Our recent growth has largely come through taking on the management of Government social housing in the Hunter Region. As a result, Hume now has a very large customer base in both Sydney and the Hunter, and we are keen to do what we can to support people on the Central Coast as well. Today's announcement marks the beginning of a what we hope will be a significant pipeline of new developments between Sydney and the Hunter to support greater rental affordability."
The Wyong location geographically connects Hume's Sydney metropolitan operations with their Maitland and Port Stephens regional offices. The prime site is centrally located close to amenities, and is walking distance to Wyong Station, supermarkets, a medical centre, and Wyong High School.
Hume will demolish two existing cottages and seek Development Approval to build up to 20 townhouses, available under both Affordable and Social rental housing programs.
"The Central Coast, like many regional areas, is struggling with a severe under supply of affordable rental housing. This development aligns perfectly with our commitment to creating thriving communities through access to affordable quality housing," Mr Braithwaite said.
Official data reveals that the waiting list for public housing has grown by 30 per cent in some areas as the costs of private housing and rent skyrocket across the Coast. Department of Communities and Justice data has revealed the number of residents seeking public housing in the Wyong area has increased by 15 per cent with close to 2,000 people on the wait list with up to 10 years in wait time. This is coupled with significant spikes in the cost of housing and rent across the Coast last year, with house prices increasing by 39.3 per cent in Wyong and rents up by 8.9% last year.
Minister for Housing, Rose Jackson, said the development will make a big difference to the lives of Wyong locals.
"The NSW Government is determined to ease the housing crisis, especially for communities like those on the Central Coast where there is a high number of essential workers. People performing vital roles in aged care, hospitals and cleaning should be able to live in a reasonable proximity to their work and communities suffer when they priced out of the rental market.
"Once complete, these townhouses will provide stable and modern housing for individuals and families in the Wyong area."
