In February 2024, the NSW Government launched a new entity – Homes NSW – to tackle the state’s housing crisis.
Homes NSW brings together the housing and homelessness services of the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) with NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC), the NSW Aboriginal Housing Office (AHO) and key worker housing.
This reform aims to streamline the social and affordable housing sector and homelessness services, creating efficiencies by reducing bureaucratic cross-agency processes. Homes NSW has also been tasked with turbocharging the construction of social and affordable homes across NSW, along with maintenance and repairs.
This is a timely move, as it aligns with the recently announced Housing Australia Future Fund. This Future Fund is an upfront investment of $10 billion established by the Federal Government. The income generated will be used to provide funding to create 20,000 new social and 20,000 new affordable homes across Australia over the next five years.