Geelong population boom prompts social housing plan

THE City of Greater Geelong is encouraging feedback on the council’s Draft Social Housing Plan 2018-2041, which aims to address the issues faced by those living on or below the poverty line.

Recent projections indicated greater Geelong would need 13,500 new social housing dwellings over 21 years to match population growth.

There are 3,300 social housing residences in the region at present, and nearly 11,000 Geelong households are feeling the strain of housing affordability stress.

The draft plan involves working with the state and federal governments to increase the supply of social housing by 6,000 dwellings by 2031, and a further 6,000 residences by 2041.

It also recommends six key strategies: leadership, investment, partnerships, planning, urban revitalisation and capacity building.

Cr Sarah Mansfield, who chairs the city’s social inclusion portfolio, said she encouraged anyone interested in reading the plan to do so before providing feedback on the “very important piece of work”.

“We often talk really positively about all of the wonderful things happening in our region, but the benefits of our growth aren’t being shared equally, and we are seeing an increase in inequality.

“This plan is a really big opportunity for the City of Greater Geelong to show leadership and address one of the most serious challenges our region is facing.

“It has the potential to make an impact in the lives of many people, and for that reason I think it’s one of the most important things we can do as a council.”

The plan was developed with the help of social housing tenants, community service agencies, housing providers, the industry sector, and attendees of the Let’s Talk About Social Housing Forum in June.

The plan is available for feedback until December 31. It can be found online at geelongaustralia.com.au/yoursay.