A Few Basic Figures on Redfern-Waterloo Public Housing

THE PEOPLE

Who live here ?

                                    Number             % of tenants      % in NSW PH   % in NSW All
Aged over 60                                          53%                  39%                  17%
Aged under 16               674                   11%                  25%                  22%
Single person                                          66%                  49%                  32%
Couple with children         75                     2%                   5%
Single parent families     425                   10%                  19%

Average Occupancy 1.45 people per property = 6017

How Long Do They Live Here?

                                                            % of tenants      % in NSW PH
Lived here for more than 10 years            32%                  32 %
Lived here for more than 5 years              57%                  24%
Moved out last year                                    9%                 (Lover than Public Housing generally)

What is Their Source of Income?

Earned income                7%
Centrelink                      91%                  (28% Disability pension)

Average household income = $337 pw $17,500 pa

In summary

In summary • An older population • Fewer children • More single person households • A stable group of tenants • High proportion of people with a disability • Very low incomes

How do Housing NSW expect it will change?

• Proportion of single people approved for public housing has declined slightly and will continue
• And the proportion of people in two person households will increase - one parent plus child
• The age of the public housing population is trending upwards
• The proportion of people with a disability will increase
• Long-term trend over last decade for public housing to focus on people with special needs will continue

THE PROPERTIES

Public Housing Properties in Redfern-Waterloo

Redfern                         1604 properties              29% of all housing          Compared to 6% in NSW
Waterloo                       2536 properties              92% of all housing

House /Unit size            Bed sit 1 bed    2 bed    3 bed    3+ bed
Percentage of stock       9%       24%      52%      13%      2%

Homes in multi-unit properties not separately titled or serviced       90%
Properties are young and have a long life left - 55% built 1970s or later

Match Between Supply and Demand Comparison of Stock and Waiting list

Bedroom category          34% (Bed Sit & 1 bed)    53% (2 Bed)                  13% (3 Bed +)
Family Composition         54% (Singles)                42% (2-4 Persons)         4%  (4+ persons)

[REDWatch note - Click on link for a map of DoH Properties in Waterloo & Redfern  (PDF 371Kb) CoS February 2007]

HOUSING NSW STRATEGIES FOR REDFERN WATERLOO

• To respond to the ageing population
• To continue to build the communities of Redfern and Waterloo
• To improve and sustain the accommodation
• To support people with mental health problems and their neighbours
• To address the mismatch between supply and demand
  

To Respond to the Ageing Population

• Housing models that combine housing and support to help people age in place"
• Physical adaptations such as the installation of lifts and modified bathrooms
• Engaging service providers to encourage recognition of the needs of public housing residents
  

Building Communities

• Tenant employment and IT training
• Improved security and joint work with Police
• Community development with University
• AIlocations policies
• Encouraging all parts of government and non-groups to play a part
• A responsive, visible presence - all client service staff work in public housing buildings in Redfern and Waterloo
• From tenant participation to Neighbourhood Boards
  

Improving and Sustaining the Accommodation

• Converting some properties internally
• Bringing all properties up to standard - to improve life for tenants and reduce responsive maintenance
• Face-lifts - removing some of the stigma
• Significant investment in landscaping
• High-rise strategy - a long-term plan for the physical and the social
• What can be done/ afford to be done about the look of the bigger buildings? Researching internationally.
  

Supporting People with Mental Health Problems and their Neighbours

• Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative
• Joint Guarantee of Service
• Offering co-location to service providers and encouraging case management to link clients
• Sensitive allocation strategies
  

Improving the match of supply to demand

• Converting existing properties
• Redevelopment where viable – but without loss of public housing
• More flexible allocation strategies
  

Arranged by Geoff Turnbull from a Presentation supplied by DoH January 2006 - REDWatch www.redwatch.org.au email mail@redwatch.org.au