Draft Affordable Housing Strategy and Action Plan

Housing affordability is a critical issue in Penrith LGA, as it is nationally.

Affordable housing is housing that is appropriate for the needs of a range of very-low to moderate income households, and priced so these households can meet their other essential basic living costs such as food, health care and transport.

Housing is usually considered affordable if it costs less than 30% of a household’s gross income. The 2021 Census identified, 34.8% of our community are in rental stress and 16.8% of households with a mortgage are considered to be in mortgage stress.

Penrith City Council has developed a Draft Affordable Housing Strategy and Action Plan to advocate and undertake activities to directly impact housing affordability in the Penrith local government area over the next four years. Council’s ability to act in the affordable housing policy area is limited, but we can help through:

Advocacy to State and Federal Governments;
Partnerships with State Government and the housing sector (private market and community housing providers);
Support for housing, homelessness and community services sector; and
Planning incentives to encourage affordable housing in appropriate locations.

How to get involved:

Have your say on council’s Draft Affordable Housing Strategy and Action Plan by:

Completing the survey below
Completing the quick poll
Or email socialstrategy@penrith.city

Feedback closes Friday 6 October

Take the Quick Poll

Quick Poll

How affordable is Penrith LGA as a place to live?

This poll has concluded.

Very affordable

7% (5 votes)
Somewhat affordable

60% (44 votes)
Not affordable at all

33% (24 votes)

Total Votes: 73

Do you feel secure in your housing situation?

This poll has concluded.

Yes

58% (42 votes)
No

34% (25 votes)
Prefer not to say

8% (6 votes)

Total Votes: 73

Do you support the Affordable Housing Strategy Goal? “Diverse Affordable Housing for Everyone: Deliver and expand a diverse range of affordable housing that meets the spectrum of housing needs for low to moderate income households.”

This poll has concluded.

Yes

70% (60 votes)
No

30% (26 votes)

Total Votes: 86

Take the Survey

Why we need affordable housing

Timeline

Timeline item 1 - complete

31 July 2023
- Present draft to Councillors via Councillor Briefing
Timeline item 2 - complete

28 August 2023
- Present draft to Councillors via Councillor Report
Timeline item 3 - complete

September 8 2023
- Community consultation opens
Timeline item 4 - complete

October 6 2023
- Community consultation closes
Timeline item 5 - active

October 2023
- Consider community feedback
Timeline item 6 - incomplete

20 November 2023
- Present final to Councillors for endorsement via Councillor Report

Document Library

Draft Affordable Housing Strategy and Action Plan

PDF (1.51 MB) | Listen

Affordable housing is housing that is appropriate for the needs of a range of very-low to moderate income households, and priced (whether mortgage repayments or rent) so these households can meet their other essential basic living costs.

Our residents responded very positively about some aspects of housing and living in Penrith:

93% of residents are likely to recommend Penrith as a place to LIVE
90% say they are secure in their housing situation

Many respondents to this survey also identified significant challenges related to their housing situation and meeting their families’ basic daily living needs:

47%, nearly half of all those surveyed, say they disagree, strongly disagree or are neutral they are able to provide a house of good standard

Those who are least able to are residents with a disability, or who identify as First Nations, and those households earning between $50,000- $100,000.

10% say they are not secure in their housing situation

Those who are least secure are female residents, those aged 25-34, residents from older established areas, residents who identify as living with disability, from a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse background, or as First Nations people, or in households earning $50,000 - $100,000 per year.

4% feel they cannot provide basic needs for their family

Those who are least able are residents with a disability or from a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse background.

7% have run out of food in last 12 months and could not buy more

The number of households in rental stress has grown by 22.9% in the 5 years between 2016-2021. In 2021, there were close to 4 in 10 households who were in rental stress. The number of households in rental stress is likely to have increased significantly since the 2021 census, given recent rising rents and cost of living.
Penrith has 3,202 households who are renting social housing. The number of households renting social housing has grown only very slightly between 2016 and 2021, and has declined as a percentage of total households in this 5 year period.
Penrith has over 14,000 households who are considered low-income households and earn less than $886 per week. The majority of our low-income households are not residing in social housing and will therefore rely on the private market, where rents are on the increase.

The development of an Affordable Housing Strategy and Action Plan was a key recommendation from the Penrith Local Strategic Planning Statement and aligns with the Community Strategic Plan and the Local Housing Strategy.

The purpose of an Affordable Housing Strategy and Action Plan is to identify direct actions and advocacy positions that Council will take towards improving housing affordability in the Penrith council area and ensure our very-low to moderate income residents and key workers can continue to live and thrive in our Local Government Area.

Having an Affordable Housing Strategy and Action Plan helps to ensure that affordable housing is constructed in appropriate locations, designed to reflect the Penrith council area and will support the needs of local families.

The Draft Affordable Housing Strategy and Action Plan is focussed on delivering and expanding a diverse range of affordable housing that meets the spectrum of housing needs for low to moderate income households. While the provision of affordable home ownership is also important, social housing and affordable rental housing are more accessible than ownership, especially for those in need and on very-low and low incomes.

Your Say Penrith

Draft Affordable Housing Strategy and Action Plan

How to get involved:

Take the Quick Poll

Quick Poll

How affordable is Penrith LGA as a place to live?

Do you feel secure in your housing situation?

Do you support the Affordable Housing Strategy Goal? “Diverse Affordable Housing for Everyone: Deliver and expand a diverse range of affordable housing that meets the spectrum of housing needs for low to moderate income households.”

Take the Survey

Why we need affordable housing

Ready to have your say?