Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown, Housing Trust CEO Amanda Winks and Cunningham MP Alison Byrnes at the Warruya site in Wollongong on Tuesday (4 March). Photo: Housing Trust.
A multi-million dollar boost for the Housing Trust means almost 50 homes in Wollongong will remain affordable in perpetuity.
Three Housing Trust projects have been approved for funding under round one of the Federal Government’s Housing Australia Future Fund Facility (HAFFF), administered by Housing Australia.
Two of the projects, nine apartments in Wollongong called Northsea and nine apartments in Dapto called The Bower are already complete.
Warruya, in Wollongong, is under construction, and will be a 27-apartment complex. It is expected to be completed in mid 2026 and includes 15 affordable rental homes and 12 social homes.
The projects have a combined value of $34m and provide 45 dedicated long-term social and affordable rental homes for a range of local households including women and children, older women at risk of homelessness and essential workers.
The Housing Trust caps the rent for affordable homes at one third of the tenant’s household income.
The funding from HAFFF acts as a 25-year subsidy to cover property maintenance and debt against the properties that are not covered by the rent.
Warruya was granted a concessional no-interest loan over 25 years, which reduces the cost for the Housing Trust over the life of the project.
CEO of the Housing Trust Amanda Winks said the project was a great demonstration of what could be achieved when community housing providers, local, state and federal governments worked together.
“It is the helping hand that makes sure we can retain these affordable homes in perpetuity for the benefit of our community,” she said.
“They demonstrate the value and impact of funding in the delivery of affordable homes that we know are so desperately needed.
“Even with this funding, these projects rely on significant capital investment by Housing Trust.
“Predictable and reliable funding is necessary to achieve a different housing future – one where there is a decent home for everyone.”
More than 12 per cent of households in the Wollongong local government area spend more than 30 per cent of their income on rent or mortgage repayments, according to data from Wollongong City Council.
About 2000 households in the region are on the waitlist for social housing according to data from the Department of Communities and Justice.
Member for Cunningham, Alison Byrnes MP said projects from the Housing Trust would help to alleviate housing pressure on those who needed help the most.
“This funding will ensure that more families, women, and essential workers have access to safe and affordable housing,” she said.
“These projects are not just buildings; they are homes that provide stability and security to those in need.
“Our vision is to create a future where every Australian has access to a decent home.
“The Housing Australia Future Fund is a crucial part of this vision, providing the predictable and reliable funding needed to scale up social and affordable housing supply.”
Member for Whitlam Stephen Jones said on a recent visit to The Bower in Dapto he saw how housing projects could change lives.
“These nine new units have made a real difference by providing housing for women escaping domestic violence and homelessness,” he said.
“This project has transformed the lives of current residents and will continue to help many more women in the future.”
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