Affordable Housing

According to international law, everyone has the right to housing that is safe, secure, affordable, accessible and appropriate.  Federal, State and Territory Governments have primary responsibility to respect, protect and fulfil this right. 

Housing affordability is an issue when the cost of housing undermines people’s capacity to achieve an acceptable standard of living. A common measure is that housing costs are no more than 25 – 30% of household income for low income households.  Otherwise households are in ‘housing stress’, and may be unable to meet their remaining household costs.

Homelessness

There are a number of services in Yarra providing assistance for people who are homeless.  If you need assistance, you may find what you need on Melbourne Homeless Services

If you are interested in volunteering or want to give to a local charity, please visit the City of Yarra Giving Centre http://www.ourcommunity.com.au/yarragives/

For more information about homelessness, Council to Homeless Persons is the Victorian peak body for homeless services www.chp.org.au, and Homelessness Australia is the national peak body

Accommodation

Council is not a direct housing provider, however Yarra has a number of housing services and organisations located in the municipality.  If you or someone you know needs housing there are organisations which can help you work out your options.  Please click here HomeGround Services www.homeground.org.au; Yarra Community Housing www.ych.org.au

Public Housing

Yarra has the highest number of public housing units of any municipality in Victoria, with three large high rise estates and three smaller low rise estates. Office of Housing

Housing Week is an initiative of the Office of Housing and aims to increase pride and participation of public housing tenants and local communities.  It takes please every year in September.

Policies and reports

Council supports the increased supply of affordable housing in a number of ways, through identifying housing need, developing policies and applying land use planning procedures, facilitating partnerships with government, developers and not for profit social housing providers and advocating on behalf of the community.
Council actions are guided by the implementation of our Affordable Housing Statement and Strategy
Affordable Housing Statement and Strategy

As part of Council's advocacy on behalf of Yarra residents and organisations connected to homelessness, Council made a submission to the Federal Government's Green Paper on Homelessness. The submission was informed by the views of local homelessness agencies and included recommendations on:

• The importance of an integrated approach in addressing homelessness;
• The urgent need for more affordable housing;
• The requirement to adequately resource the existing homelessness system;
• The significance of a rights based approach; and
• The specific role of local government that was not included in the Green Paper.

Projects and initiatives

Inner Melbourne Affordable Housing Needs Website is a joint initiative of four councils under the Inner Melbourne Action Plan.  It provides data on housing affordability
Website www.imrhai.com.au

City of Yarra Homelessness Services Study was completed in 2003 and gives a comprehensive picture of homelessness in Yarra.

Rates Waiver Initiative was adopted by Council in 2004 with the aim of supporting the provision of affordable housing by eligible not-for-profit housing services.

Planning Fee Waiver for Community Housing Providers waives planning fees for developments by not-for-profit housing providers
Planning Fee Waiver for Community Housing Providers

Networks and groups

Yarra Housing and Homelessness Network
Council convenes a local network linking agencies and tenant representatives from the housing, homelessness and health sectors within the City of Yarra. The Network meets bimonthly and anyone interested can be included on the email list.

Emergency Relief
YHHN is currently supporting Emergency Relief Funding Action to advocate for increased emergency relief in Yarra. FaCSIA information on Emergency Relief Funding and Emergency Relief Fact Sheet

Yarra Public Tenants Association Forum is a network of representatives from the public tenant groups within Yarra. Its purpose is to develop a strong voice for public housing tenants on issues across the municipality

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Further information

Community Planner – Housing and Advocacy
Richmond Town Hall
333 Bridge Rd, Richmond 3121
anne.emery@yarracity.vic.gov.au
Telephone 9205 5094
Email info@yarracity.vic.gov.au

Links

Within this site
Yarra City Councl

External sites (Yarra City Council accepts no responsibility for the information or opinions contained within external sites)

Office of Housing
Council to Homeless Persons

Community Housing Federation of Victoria

Inner Urban Rooming House Group is a partnership of inner urban local governments and other organisations working to halt the decline of inner urban rooming house stocks.  A project of this group produced a report Rooms for the Future and a strategy for owners and operators More than a Landlord

Rooming Houses have declined significantly in number over the past decades. In 2000 the City of Yarra funded a research project focused on private rooming houses in Yarra called On the Threshold. 

Housing and Local Government Network is a Victoria-wide network of local government housing officers.  It meets bimonthly to network, share information and act on issues of concern. 

Information supplied by: Electronic communications & design officer - 9205 5214

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