At a joint meeting of Ministers for Housing, Local Government and Planning at the end of August, Ministers agreed to work towards a Framework for National Action on Affordable Housing. The Framework spans 3 years and begins in this first year with 4 commitments:

• National Sector Development Plan for not-for-profit affordable housing providers
• National approach to housing need analysis reflected in planning policy and regulations
• Options to strengthen certainty in subsidy arrangements for affordable rental housing
• Package of reform options for Ministerial consideration

The Framework recognises that housing affordability is an issue that spans several portfolios and places activities in 2 categories: Affordable Housing Delivery and Parallel Policy Parameters. In the first year, only Commitment 1, the National Sector Development Plan, falls under housing delivery.

Affordable housing advocates have been seeking national direction and action on affordable housing for some time. This Framework has delivered a mechanism for developing a system that provides safe affordable housing for low and moderate income households across a range of housing tenures.

The Framework for National Action on Affordable Housing is available for Download Here (80K)

On 14 September, The Hon Francis Logan, Minister for Housing & Works, released an extensive discussion draft for the Housing Strategy for WA.

Affordability, sustainability and equity are the key principles that form the basis of the Housing Strategy discussion draft, which is made up of 5 strategies:

• Guiding the system - delivering quality housing
• Home ownership
• Affordable private rental
• Government supported housing
• Supporting vulnerable people in the community.

The document recognises that the market is failing a section of society and measures are required to increase the supply of affordable housing.

The discussion draft includes a large amount of background material on key trends and issues including housing demand, priority housing needs and demographics. The document also has a section on the Sustainability of Current and Future Housing that explores intiatives that will "lead to improved health, law and order, education and social outcomes."

Comments on the draft close on 28 February 2006.

Please visit WA Department of Housing & Works for full details.