Universal Answer to All Ills - "Sell"

"We consider, however, that housing is essentially an expression of the way of life of the people, and that, therefore, it is impossible to separate housing from a consideration of the broader aspects of the life of the people   from such questions, as how and where they earn their living, and how and where they spend their leisure.” Ben Chifley 1944 Commonwealth Housing Commission Report.

In the case of the West Dubbo Housing Estate in NSW the properties were sold and the name of the suburb changed to Rosewood Grove.

There are sales taking place in Bowen and Glenroi in Orange, and Kelso near Bathurst.

In regards to the Claymore Urban Renewal project in NSW, the new Housing Minister, Mr Terenzini, said “At Claymore the redevelopment will provide 1281 homes: 384 to be retained as social housing, 123 former public housing homes will be available for private sale and 774 will be sold as vacant residential lots.'' The project will turn the suburb into a mixture of public and social housing – induced Social Mix.

The former Mikal Way public housing estate in Booragul NSW was once described as an urban war zone and among the worst housing estates in the Hunter. Now it is about to become Lake Macquarie’s latest real estate gem. Plans have been lodged with Lake Macquarie City Council to develop a private 80-lot housing subdivision on the site.

The Victorian government justified the sale of 3.5 hectares of public housing land in Carlton to a developer by claiming it was essential for the social integration of public housing tenants into the broader community. The plans show the private development will be in the form of two gated communities, secured against public tenants by a 2.5-metre wall. So much for the claim of ‘social integration’. There will be no net increase in public tenant numbers on the Carlton Estates following the $200 million development.

There are many more examples of state and territory governments following the practice of divesting themselves of problems that their own actions, or lack of action in some cases, have caused. The decision to divest is usually the result of being publically held accountable by outside interests who have the capacity to follow a particular matter through to a logical conclusion. The implementation of the decision to sell bears remarkable similarity to a funeral in that both occasions mark the end of a life, the end of relationships, the beginning of new associations and lifestyles.

If the respective governments were to abandon their ‘rationing’ approach and associated fixed term leases, expand their rental public housing stock, and revert back to their original purpose of being a source of affordable rental housing, the social problems experienced by those in public housing would dramatically reduce. Those problems would not impact on the broader community.

The attendant reduction of social problems would generate an extremely significant drop in service demand on all the other government agencies and departments. This drop has been quantified in many other countries, including the USA, Canada, Europe, and the United Kingdom. The savings from the reduction in demand could initially be allocated to expanding the public housing stock.

If the individual tenant was able to work without fear of loosing their tenancies [homes] there would be the capacity for the housing provider to have a higher income which in turn would enhance the level and quality of services, including maintenance, supplied. The gainfully employed tenants would provide a different kind of Social Mix – economic – as well as being role models.

If the tenant had ongoing security of tenure there would be a base for homemaking on the part of the tenant as opposed to the current situation of finite term occupancy. Home occupiers are the building blocks for community which in turn is the best antidote for anti-social behaviour.

Security of tenure also provides the springboard for the tenant’s children to receive a better quality education – education being an essential starting point for quality of future life and lifestyle.

The key component of Chifley’s quote, “…. it is impossible to separate housing from a consideration of the broader aspects of the life of the people …” was relevant in 1944 and is even more relevant today. Hopefully those charged with delivering housing/homes to the community today will heed Chifley’s message and implement the spirit of it.

Ross Smith
Waterloo

References:
www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/06/09/2922743.htm?site=centralwest&section=news
www.macarthuradvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/general/claymore-set-for-a-public-housing-sale/1853539.aspx
www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/projects-built-at-expense-of-community-20100214-nzdn.html
www.theherald.com.au/news/local/news/general/new-plans-for-booragul-public-housing-estate/1846630.aspx

Source: The RIMFIRE Review is the weekly opinion publication of the National Tenant Support Network. It offers readers an opportunity to say what should be said, as distinct from what can be said, with anonymity, in  the public arena.  You are welcome to submit considered and robust opinion pieces for publication in the RIMFIRE Review, however, final editorial privilege will be vested in the Coordinator of the National TSN.  2007©RIMFIRE REVIEW.

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