Affordable housing scheme delivers in Ipswich

Low income families in Ipswich continue to benefit from the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) with 738 affordable dwellings provided under the scheme so far.

Minister for Housing and Public Works Tim Mander said that the scheme was delivering on the Government’s election promise to lower the cost of living for families.  

“Boosting the supply of affordable housing is the perfect way to lower the cost of living for families, especially those who are struggling the most,” Mr Mander said.
 
“We recently passed the 7,000 mark across the state, with more than 5,000 of those delivered since March 2012 when the Newman Government was elected.

“Of the 738 homes built in Ipswich, 419, or almost 60 per cent have been delivered under this Government.

Mr Mander said NRAS was a partnership between the Queensland and Australian Governments delivering homes where rent is capped at 80 per cent of the going market rate.

“This fills a crucial gap in the housing system for people on modest incomes who could otherwise be waiting years for social housing,” he said.

“Of the 9,000 or so Queensland households who have found a home under this scheme, almost 30 per cent were previously on the social housing waiting list,” he said.

“Labor left 30,000 families on this list and we are doing everything we can to reduce it.

“At the same time NRAS provides options for thousands of others who don’t necessarily qualify for social housing but still struggle to find a place they can afford.

“More than 75 per cent of all Queensland households accommodated through the scheme had an annual income of less than $50,000 a year and well over a third had an annual income of less than $30,000.”

Mr Mander said the program was also helping support jobs in the construction sector.

“Between March 2012 and September 2013, NRAS was responsible for almost 10 per cent of all new dwellings built across the state so you’re not only getting a great social outcome but a great economic one as well.”

More information regarding the National Rental Affordability Scheme is available at http://www.qld.gov.au/housing/renting/nras

[ENDS] 3 April 2014

Media contact: Martin Kennedy 0418 891 943