Housing assistance and regional disadvantage (New South Wales)
Summary
This project investigates the integration of housing assistance and regional development programs. The case studies identify significant opportunities for the development of such integration although find no evidence of formal coordination.
Project Number: 60029
Research Theme: Social_Wellbeing
Project Leader: Medhurst, David
Funding Year: 2000
Research Centre: Sydney
Research & Policy Bulletin
Issue 020: The key role of housing in regional development
What part does housing play in effective regional development, and what role could it play? This report explores the connections between housing policy and regional and local development, drawing on experience from overseas and Australia.
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62 KB PDF Document
Description
Extensive experience in managing rural housing assistance in Australia is found in the work of regional housing offices in most states and territories but is rarely accessible to a wider public. There is little evidence that such information is considered adequately in relation to other government measures designed to promote development in disadvantaged regions in the absence of coherent regional plans. Housing projects sourced from public funds result in measurable but relatively unknown outcomes.
The point of departure for this research project is the recognition that valuable experience and expertise has been accumulated by the regional offices of the NSW Department of Housing in the preparation of regularly updated regional housing assistance plans but little is known nationally about their successful features, such as adoption of formalised community participation in the housing process through the establishment of regional housing forums, or the attempts made to overcome obstacles to their integration with associated fields of public policy.
The need for housing assistance varies considerably among individual centres located in a region of overall disadvantage where fast growing LGAs are contrasted with towns where little change or even decline is present. Such intra-regional differences are reflected in varying requirements for the delivery of housing and support services. The northern region of NSW provides a suitable case study from within which to assemble data on the cost-effectiveness of alternative housing policies and their integration (or otherwise) with programs designed to reduce regional disadvantage.
Five sequential research steps began with an international overview of cost-effectiveness outcomes of public sector housing policies and explores best practice in utilising regional disadvantage programs; followed by a socio-economic analysis of the northern NSW regional case study; an audit of regional assistance policies at both Commonwealth and state levels in the northern region; an economic appraisal of the case study region; and, finally, an examination of policy integration considerations.
More Information
Research and Policy Bulletin: Issue 020: The key role of housing in regional development
62 KB PDF Document
Positioning Paper: No. 007: Housing assistance and regional disadvantage
407 KB PDF Document
Final Report: No. 011: Housing assistance and regional disadvantage
218 KB PDF Document
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