Comments on: Social Housing or Private Profit? http://www.arena.org.au/2010/03/social-housing-or-private-profit/ the website of left political, social and cultural commentary Sun, 22 Jan 2012 10:07:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Paul Thewlis http://www.arena.org.au/2010/03/social-housing-or-private-profit/comment-page-1/#comment-432 Paul Thewlis Wed, 27 Oct 2010 13:03:41 +0000 http://www.arena.org.au/?p=919#comment-432 Thanks for a really interesting article Joanne. It's important that we analyse these kinds of policy initiatives. However, I feel I should point out that while the housing market does exhibit variablity, it is one of the most common and stable long term investments made by Australians. From an investment point of view, the NRAS scheme adds a level of certainty to property investment that makes this a very attractive prospect. Furthermore, many NRAS properties are now being bought, not by faceless huge developers, but by individuals and families. NRAS is providing an opportunity for Australians to aid others suffering housing stress and be rewarded for it. As to the scheme's effectiveness for reducing housing stress, NRAS is an attempt to alleviate the significant housing shortages in many parts of Australia. It differs from traditional models of social housing because it focuses on assisting 'key workers' in our community, such as teachers, firefighters and nurses. The aim is to ensure NRAS rental properties are distributed throughout our community, thereby preventing the invidious effects of social isolation that so often result from the kind of tower block public housing erected in the 1960s. It is not intended to replace the public housing measures in place to assist the most vulnerable members of our community but to provide an additional measure of support to those who are facing housing stress due to the shortage of housing supply in our communities. As such, I truly believe NRAS is one of the most forward looking examples of public policy in Australia today, integrating research into preventing the socially marginalising effects of public housing with a system for leveraging private investment to deliver a public benefit. Thanks for a really interesting article Joanne. It’s important that we analyse these kinds of policy initiatives. However, I feel I should point out that while the housing market does exhibit variablity, it is one of the most common and stable long term investments made by Australians. From an investment point of view, the NRAS scheme adds a level of certainty to property investment that makes this a very attractive prospect. Furthermore, many NRAS properties are now being bought, not by faceless huge developers, but by individuals and families. NRAS is providing an opportunity for Australians to aid others suffering housing stress and be rewarded for it.

As to the scheme’s effectiveness for reducing housing stress, NRAS is an attempt to alleviate the significant housing shortages in many parts of Australia. It differs from traditional models of social housing because it focuses on assisting ‘key workers’ in our community, such as teachers, firefighters and nurses. The aim is to ensure NRAS rental properties are distributed throughout our community, thereby preventing the invidious effects of social isolation that so often result from the kind of tower block public housing erected in the 1960s. It is not intended to replace the public housing measures in place to assist the most vulnerable members of our community but to provide an additional measure of support to those who are facing housing stress due to the shortage of housing supply in our communities.

As such, I truly believe NRAS is one of the most forward looking examples of public policy in Australia today, integrating research into preventing the socially marginalising effects of public housing with a system for leveraging private investment to deliver a public benefit.

]]> By: Rental assistance http://www.arena.org.au/2010/03/social-housing-or-private-profit/comment-page-1/#comment-294 Rental assistance Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:08:30 +0000 http://www.arena.org.au/?p=919#comment-294 I don't know how it is in Australia but in the US, it's easier to try an get rental assistance from non-governmental agencies like churches and non-profits. Getting federal assistance is for professionals like welfare recipients. I don’t know how it is in Australia but in the US, it’s easier to try an get rental assistance from non-governmental agencies like churches and non-profits. Getting federal assistance is for professionals like welfare recipients.

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