The Gillard Labor Government will continue its commitment to affordable housing by doubling the number of homes to be built through the ‘shovel ready’ round under the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) to 2,000 homes. NRAS offers annual financial incentives, currently valued at $10,350 per dwelling, for each year up to 10 years to build and rent new homes or apartments for low to moderate income tenants, at 20 per cent below the market value rent.

The federal government is widening its definition of homelessness. Housing and Homelessness Minister Mark Butler said people staying in crisis accommodation should be regarded as homeless. The new definition stipulated that safety must be recognised as a vital element in how people lived. Some people may be homeless because they have no safe place to live even if they have a usual address.

A seminar organised by Housing NSW and Shelter NSW is being held in Fairfield and Ashfield (Sydney) to provide up to date information on the multicultural services provided by Housing NSW and to answer any questions about those services. The Fairfield seminar is on Wednesday 26 June and the Ashfield seminar is on Friday 28 June.

Lismore City Council is the thirteenth Council in NSW to go ‘live’ with its new Electronic Housing Code (EHC). The online system allows electronic lodgement of complying development applications under the NSW Housing Code for lots of 200m2 or above. This system will also allow the user to determine if they are able to proceed with their development without the need for approval.

The Minister for Finance and Services Greg Pearce and the Member for Tweed Geoff Provest have announced details of public housing properties to be transferred to local community housing providers. On Track Community Programs has been allocated 18 properties in Tweed Heads South to manage and maintain.