Affordable Housing

Council adopted an Affordable Housing Policy on 7 August 2007.  The purpose of this Policy is to assist people on low to moderate weekly incomes to live in affordable rental housing in the Canada Bay area.

What is affordable housing? 

Affordable Housing is housing which is priced below private market rental rates, and available for up to 5 years to those who are working but earning low/moderate income.

How is it different from public (social) housing?

Public housing is owned and administered by the NSW Department of Housing.  It assists low income earners and receivers of government benefits and provides long-term rental housing. 

Who is eligible?

Affordable Housing is targeted to income earners whose gross income is in the low 50%-80% of Sydney medium household income (gross) or in the moderate 80%-120% of Sydney medium household income (gross) and who are paying more than 30% of gross household income for accommodation.

To be eligible to apply for housing, Council has adopted the following criteria:

• Low to moderate income
• Permanently employed
• Australian Citizen or permanent resident
• Does not own property or assets, which could be used to assist meet housing needs
• Employed in the following sectors in the Canada Bay and other Local Government Areas:
  • Health services
  • Childcare and Early Childhood
  • Education (Primary and secondary)
  • Emergency Services.

How will Affordable Housing stock be acquired and managed?

The Policy proposes that Council will acquire a range of 3, 2, and 1 bedroom dwellings through a variety of methods including voluntary planning agreements with developers.  These dwellings where possible will be located close to public transport, employment and services.

The management of the dwellings will be awarded to a ‘qualified housing provider’, with selection in accordance with Council’s Procurement Policy.  Council will have a deed of management arrangement with the provider.