$3.9 Million Boost for Social Housing and 
Jobs in the Hunter

Hume Community Housing has been granted just under $4 million by the NSW Government to upgrade 70 social housing properties to provide jobs and improve homes in the Hunter region.

This program of works will be rolled-out by the end of June and the funding will improve the quality, safety and comfort of homes with a variety of renovations taking place.

This funding allocation flows from the NSW Government’s announcement of 31 successful bids by Community Housing Providers (CHPs) to deliver $40 million in stimulus funding to upgrade social housing, create jobs and help build safer and stronger communities throughout NSW.

“Hume believes in supporting local communities and businesses so local contractors will deliver these works and provide a boost to employment opportunities and create an economic stimulus in the region,” said Hume’s Chief Executive Officer, Nicola Lemon.

“Hume intends to upgrade properties that will benefit the quality of life for our customers, as well as encourage greater pride in the local community,” she said.

Minister for Water, Property and Housing, Melinda Pavey, said the $40 million program will deliver capital works for more than 2000 properties owned by NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) and managed by CHPs, including 55 per cent in regional locations.

“The program will create more than 350 jobs in NSW, with more than half of them in regional areas. Regional NSW has also received over half of government stimulus grants over $1 million,” Mrs Pavey said.

“Alongside CHPs, we’re improving the quality, comfort and safety of homes for thousands of vulnerable people and families throughout NSW.

“This investment is also supporting the local businesses that are supplying workers with the tools, trades and building materials that will give these homes a fresh lick of paint, a new roof or gutter, and much needed bathroom and kitchen replacements.”

The $40 million stimulus injection forms part of the NSW Government’s record budget investment of close to $900 million to fast-track construction of thousands of new homes, while creating jobs and boosting the State’s economic recovery from COVID-19.

The NSW Government announced a $200 million maintenance spend in the last year’s budget. This complements the $47 million maintenance stimulus program delivered by LAHC last year, which supported 500 jobs and upgraded 2,200 social housing properties and another 200 buildings, grounds and complexes, in regional and metropolitan NSW.

Hume Community Housing is one of the largest community housing providers in Australia and in 2018 Hume secured the largest social housing transfer in NSW under the Social Housing Management Transfers (SHMT) program.  Here Hume assumed tenancy management of over 2000 homes and 4,000 customers across the Maitland and Port Stephens local government areas.

On 1 July 2021 Hume Community Housing will take over the maintenance management of the SHMT properties from LAHC – which are currently responsible for overall maintenance of these buildings and not related to this stimulus package, which Hume will deliver.

ENDS

Media contact Sharon Kelly on 0455 489 647 or [email protected]