Login
iscover
Australia’s independent research and advisory body is turning its attention to the work of the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement (NHHA) in a review intended to take six months.
In a joint press release, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and assistant treasurer and Minister for Housing Michael Sukkar announced the commencement of the Productivity Commission’s scheduled review of the NHHA to determine whether the agreement is meeting its objectives, with a final report expected by 30 June 2022.
The agreement, which was put in place in 2018, sets out the framework for funding around $1.6 billion per year in Commonwealth spending in support of states’ and territories’ homelessness services and programs, which they are required to match.
To receive funding under the NHHA, state and territory governments must provide publicly available housing and homelessness strategies and contribute to transparent data collection and reporting.
The NHHA also provided for roughly $5.3 billion in 2021‑22 via the Commonwealth Rent Assistance program to support individuals in both the private rental market and community housing.
Mr Frydenberg said the review would consider options to maximise the impact of the Commonwealth’s investment in housing and look at ways of improving the country’s ability to provide a well‑functioning social housing system, affordable housing options and effective homelessness service system.
The council’s report is due to be delivered ahead of the first renewal of the bilateral schedules between the Commonwealth and each state and territory, which are slated to be examined every five years.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Juliet Helmke
Based in Sydney, Juliet Helmke has a broad range of reporting and editorial experience across the areas of business, technology, entertainment and the arts. She was formerly Senior Editor at The New York Observer.
You are not authorised to post comments.
Comments will undergo moderation before they get published.