CNote’s Post

Given all the hate and negativity around it was incredible to have such a great turnout at our public meeting on housing in Maynooth last night. We outlined the many solutions that are there to the housing crisis – if the political will existed to implement them. We are giving hope – showing that there are inclusive ways to solve the housing crisis that ensures everyone has a home. The housing crisis is, as I have described it before, a social and economic disaster – it is causing a crisis of hopelessness amongst our younger generations – it affects everyone in this country. I reiterated last night that the housing crisis is not an accident and nor does it result from immigration or asylum seekers – it results from policies that put the market, landlords and investor funds first – that ignored the needs of a generation. It results from housing plans that have failed policies with insufficient targets. We made the point that we need a supply of homes that are affordable to buy and affordable to rent. There are many many solutions, for example: – stopping people being made homeless by reintroducing the 'no-fault' evictions ban - introduce the Simon Communities’ Homelessness Prevention Bill -stop the vulture funds from buying up housing and impose a build-to-sell to homebuyers requirement -provide the funding for affordable housing delivery through the O Cualann housing model -invest in the state capacity to deliver public housing -invest in fast build factory and modern methods of housing delivery that can ramp up affordable housing delivery -invest properly in tackling vacancy and dereliction (and introduce proper vacant property taxation, compulsory sales orders, and ‘use it or lose it’ on derelict property) It is important to say that, if elected as an MEP I will push for all these solutions, and use my position to work with and pressure the Irish Government to implement them. I will also work to pressure the European Union to work harder with Ireland to help deliver affordable sustainable homes, through the European Investment Bank and a new Housing Plan for Europe.   If you can help me in my campaign you can contact me at rory.hearne@socialdemocrats.ie or DM me or donate to my gofund me to help pay for posters and leaflets at: https://lnkd.in/eC_u96tU

“The evidence is clear: scrapping rent convergence has sucked resources away from social housing providers being able to invest in customers’ homes. “With more than half of homes not meeting the formula rent, in the long run they become unsustainable for social housing charities to continue providing. We simply have to avoid this happening." Andy Hulme, our Chief Executive. Inside Housing reveals that the end of rent convergence and a lack of a long-term rent settlement is putting 300,000 social homes in London at risk of becoming financially unsustainable. The G15 #UKHousing #SocialHousing

While the Federal legislation to support the Australian Housing Future Fund was finally passed, Housing All Australians is still proposing that we unite as a country and target to end homelessness in Tasmania and measure the economic and social outcomes.  Being an island state, Tasmania can be a test case for national housing policy. Tasmania is on its way by targeting to build 10,000 homes by 2032 while their housing waiting list is only 4,700. No other state or territory is in the same position. This is a low-cost option with staggering benefits to the Australia community. With the current elections on foot, both parties are committed to helping Tasmanians get a roof over their head. Mike Zorbas, Chief Executive Property Council of Australia describes this as “a very powerful idea” and “the sort of idea that needs to be encouraged". Tasmania’s approach highlights the possibilities when every part of the system works in a true partnership to achieve the impossible. As Mike says, “we must be ambitious for creating a better Australia”. Can you stand by and watch as thousands wait for a roof over their heads? The solution is available now. Share and repost so we can leave a better Australia for our children and grandchildren. They deserve it. Jeremy Rockliff, Nic Street, Rebecca White, Ella Haddad

This IS a very powerful idea. There are a number of very powerful ideas, some of which, we at HAA are also pursuing and developing. Our different levels of government can assist in making the housing issues diminish. This in turn helps the developers to offer alternatives such as a certain quota of social and affordable in every new development. We have buildings lying dormant during the DA process that could be utilised as interim or meanwhile housing. The issue is simple, lack of housing. The solutions are many. Action is now our best way forward.

Not a crazy idea, just not well planned out to attract #impactinvestment capital. Stop talking philanthropy (HNW do this already). Stop mandating excessive government control over the development and operational process (government is the problem). Allow private sector to build housing without unreasonable delays and costs (P3). We already have #opportunityfunds and other federal and local incentives or tax credits to build attainable housing that HNW families would support as a viable asset class. #sharedvalues #sustainablecommunities.

Everyone deserves a safe, dignified place to live. But, like so many of our communities, Evansville, IN has been struck by a crisis-level shortage of affordable housing as rising housing costs have left many struggling with the burden of their skyrocketing rents. CAJE, DART’s affiliate in Evansville, has been fighting for years to get the city to take action on this crisis. Since 2018, they have successfully gotten the Mayor to fund the Affordable Housing Trust fund with $500,000 each year. Yet, Evansville is still short on 2,800 units of affordable housing, and thousands of families are feeling the weight of this gap. That’s why CAJE brought together thousands of people to demand that their new Mayor take action. At their Nehemiah Action this spring, CAJE got the Mayor to commit to request an additional $250,000 for the city’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund and to take future action to ensure residents have access to affordable housing. The injustices that our communities face can feel overwhelming - but CAJE shows us that when everyday people come together, we are capable of winning the solutions that we need. #justice #localpolitics #affordablehousing #communityorganizing #peoplepower

Where will you sleep tonight? As my family and I added an extra blanket to counter the crisp evening last night, under a warm safe roof, I thought of the 122,494 people experiencing homelessness in Australia. Over 23% of these people (almost 1 in 4) are children and young people aged between 12 and 24. The Federal Government, the Hon Julie Collins MP and the Housing Australia Team, led by their dedicated CEO Nathan Dal Bon, are to be commended for the implementation of the Housing Australia Future Fund Round 1. This is one valuable step toward more homes for those most vulnerable. Community Housing Providers (CHP's) responded with submissions for over 26,000 new homes. Some already in construction and some yet to be built - ALL to provide social and affordable housing to those in need of a home. As outlined in the ARF article today (below), lets capitalise on this investment and the opportunity to do more now. We need bold investment and bold bipartisan support to create a long term pipeline of new social and affordable homes. All Australian's and our children deserve access to a warm, safe place to sleep, in a secure home.

As part of #Vancouver's transformation of the development process, this video explains the bold changes this Canadian city is proposing that will make it easier and faster for non-profits to build social and cooperative housing. https://ow.ly/xe2L50TzgGZ

This independent report from Alma Economics commissioned by Big Society Capital shows the significant social value that can be created by impact investment - in this case £455m of social value from over a decade of investment by Resonance Limited homelessness property funds, with the potential to effectively double that through current initiatives. We work with housing partners who never forget that we are talking about individual lives here, and our impact reports reflect that. But it is also relevant to take account of this kind of economic analysis when deciding how best to allocate resources and investment for positive social impact.

According to Government figures, there were over 104,000 households in temporary accommodation this time last year, which contained over 130,000 children, the cost of housing people and children in temporary accommodation is crippling an already stretched local government system. An Independent report by Alma Economics commissioned by Big Society Capital of our five homelessness property funds highlights that over the last 10 years, 3,300 people who were in a housing crisis - including 1,607 children - were housed in good quality, safe and affordable homes at a saving of around £140m for the government. A massive thank you to Marie-Alix PRAT, Caroline Hailstone, Gemma Bourne, Drew Ritchie and Alma Economics for highlighting the difference that our funds are making as well as demonstrating with social impact investing there is an opportunity for the government to scale the solution, help more people who are in a housing crisis and save the taxpayer money. Read the report: https://lnkd.in/dzeP5c4h #ukhousing #socialimpact #socialimpactinvesting #homelessness