73. Enable and diversify social and affordable housing providers and housing choice by:
- investigating government financing mechanisms, including risk profiles, to support future investment in the sector
- reforming policy to facilitate growth of registered community housing organisations and reviewing existing Community Housing Agreements to address provisions that limit, or disincentivise, the attraction of alternative financing and funding of new projects
- leveraging government land assets, including greater opportunities for leasehold tenure, and providing financial and yield incentives to broaden private sector and institutional investment
- facilitating voluntary participation by tenants and owners in longer-term leases through common and commercially available contracts.
The WA Government responded to Foundation for a stronger tomorrow in February 2023. Recommendation 73 (a-c) is fully supported; (d) is not supported. For further information please refer to the response document.
Actions:
73.109 Identify alternative financing models for social housing delivery, including piloting a Ground Lease model for a build-to-rent social and affordable housing scheme
73.110 Deliver social and affordable housing in partnership with the private and community housing sectors as part of the Housing Diversity Pipeline
73.111 Investigate reforming policy and reviewing existing Community Housing Agreements
3/3 actions on schedule
73.109 On schedule
A contractor has been appointed to demolish the former Stirling Towers complex in Smith Street, Highgate, preparing the site for redevelopment.
73.110 On schedule
Negotiations are progressing for three of the four Housing Diversity Pipeline identified sites, being East Parade/Guildford Road, Mount Lawley; East Street, East Fremantle and Brown Street, Busselton. Development WA are releasing a number of brownfield sites to the market for mixed tenure housing, including Pier Street, Perth and Court Place, Subiaco, which will deliver mixed-tenure developments including social and affordable housing.
73.111 On schedule
Implementation of the work plan to support proposed reforms to the operation of community housing is progressing. Sub-committees/working groups have been established to provide informed advice, so the reforms provide meaningful change. In April 2024, the Community Housing Policy Working Group was established.