LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN AUSTRALIA AND ITS CAPACITY TO SUPPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING Local government and housing in the 21 st Century Lenka Thompson (PhD Student) ARC Linkage Project: PL150100160
ABOUT ME LENKA THOMPSON > Elected councillor to Moreland City Council (2012-2016) > Portfolio councillor for Affordable and Accessible Housing > Chair of Moreland Housing Matters Advisory Committee > McArthur / MAV Fellowship recipient 2014 "Real affordable housing options for all residents - land trusts for affordable housing in Local governments > YWCA Housing Development Committee member 2016
ABOUT THE OTHER ME LENKA THOMPSON > A run-about mum for an energetic 2 year old and partner of a painter artist > Environmental Scientist to an Environmental Audit west of Melbourne > Community leader for creating an urban forest along a local train line
PHD RATIONALE FOR THE RESEARCH > Australia is in a 'housing crisis Homelessness Housing stress Affordable housing demand greater than supply Unreachable housing market Insecure housing tenure > Little clarity on how local government can help alleviate the crisis > Gap in the research of how best to use land and building assets owned by local governments
PHD RESEARCH QUESTIONS Primary Question: Why are some councils able to facilitate the provision of affordable housing while others are not? Secondary Questions: > What are councils doing with respect to affordable housing and what are the challenges/opportunities? > Can local government provide affordable housing utilising their land and building assets? > Can third parties (not-for-profits or NGOs) play a role in helping local government provide affordable housing? > What role do Councillors play in shaping and implementing housing policy?
PHD PROJECT MEMBER COUNCILS 1. City of Greater Bendigo 2. Mount Alexander Shire Council 3. City of Moonee Valley 4. Moreland City Council
PHD RESEARCH SO FAR FEDERAL POLICIES AND PROGRAMS Australia Signatory of United Nation s ICESCR and New Urban Agenda Overarching Policies > Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement replaced by > National Affordable Housing Agreement Housing Assistance Programs > Commonwealth Rent Assistance > National Rental Affordability Scheme > Social Housing Initiative > Independent Living Units
PHD RESEARCH SO FAR LOCAL INVOLVEMENT Local governments and not-for-profit housing organisations > BHC (Brisbane City Council) > Port Phillip Housing Association (City of Port Phillip) Development over council-owned car parks (air space development) Allocated public land from the council Currently $85 million in housing assets > Moreland Affordable Housing Limited (Moreland City Council) Looking for Board members, council-owned land and partners Queensland local governments directly provide housing > Sate government has a mandate to transfer 90% of its stock to councils
PHD RESEARCH SO FAR LOCAL INVOLVEMENT Parramatta Feasibility Study Uni of Western Sydney > Council-owned land surplus to its needs and a former maintenance depot nominated site for the feasibility study > The land parcel was 4,222 m 2 > Valued at $3.1 million and considered a substantial contribution of equity for the project Playford Alive (Playford City Council and SA Government) > Joint project between Local and State governments > Provide homes to eligible households for a certain time > Council committing $23 million over 10 years
PHD - THEORY Neoliberalism > Involves reducing government intervention to allow market forces to assert its superiority over social and economic affairs (Forrest, 2009) > Neoliberal policies been around since the 1980 s significant social and economic impacts. Significant impact on housing. > Produced a global real estate market, contributing to high housing prices as an unintended consequence Human Rights > The recognition of the inherent value of each person based on dignity, equality and mutual respect, regardless of cultural, social or economic backgrounds (Australian Human Rights Commission) > Stemming from theology and natural law from all across the world, it has the longest legacy still prevalent in todays society > Political and social discourse wanting to bring policy development back to more just outcomes
HUMAN RIGHTS, NEOLIBERALISM AND HOUSING > the housing sector has been transformed by global financial actors and unprecedented amounts of excess capital. It is no longer as we once knew it. Housing has been financialized: valued as a commodity rather than a place to live in dignity, to raise a family and thrive within a community. Housing has become security for financial instruments traded and sold on global markets. It has lost its currency as a universal human right. (Farha, 2017).
PHD - METHODOLOGY In-depth Interviews with Project Member Councils Why are some councils able to facilitate the provision of affordable housing while others are not? > Gain an understanding of the council s goals, the barriers, challenges and opportunities? > What are the organisation s land holdings? > Does the organisation have a strategy for the land holdings to realise those assets for affordable housing provision? > What are the economic models for local governments to provide their land holdings for affordable housing?
PHD - TIMELINE > March August 2017 Chapter 2: Local Government Possibilities and Challenge Chapter 3: Theoretical Framework > September 2017 PhD Assessment with UTS > September 2017 onwards Ethics submission to UTS In depth interviews with project member councils
CONTACT Lenka Thompson PhD Student, UTS e lenka.m.thompson@student.uts.edu.au m 0425 786 377 s lenkamai t @lenkathompson1 Thank you.