Presented by Robert Clark MP		www.robertclark.net

Public housing improvements in Budget

This year’s State Budget allows for $97.5 million of improvements to Government-owned housing.

The expenditure is part of the Office of Housing’s total capital expenditure of $365 million in 1999-2000. The amount is sourced from the generation of internal funds and State Budget appropriation of $308.3 million (comprising Commonwealth funding of $216.5 million and State funding of $91.8 million as per the current Commonwealth/State Housing Agreement.)

Improvements will include fire-safety works, modifications to increase housing opportunities and improve access for people with disabilities, and upgrading stock condition.

$20 million will be allocated to redevelopments in inner urban and major regional centres as part of a longer term strategy of improving older estates.

This year’s budget will also allow for the acquisition of more than 2000 additional properties during the year, bringing total stock numbers to more than 71,000 properties.

$10 million will also be allocated to expand Transitional Housing, enabling some 9500 homeless person households to be assisted.

Specific attention will be given to youth homelessness with the acquisition of an extra 50 properties, and acquisitions for the Turning the Tide initiative will increase to more than 100 the number of properties available for drug and alcohol post withdrawal accommodation.

$13 million has been allocated for additional housing needs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Over the next 12 months, more than 100 properties, administered by the Aboriginal Housing Board of Victoria (AHBA) will be either replaced or purchased, providing more than 1000 units dedicated to aboriginal housing. There will also be a further $2.7 million to upgrade existing AHBV properties.

(News Release, Office of the Minister for Housing, May 4, 1999)