Affordable Housing Strategy 2021

The Draft Affordable Housing Strategy 2021 is a document prepared by Bayside City Council to outline Council’s response to an identified need for more affordable housing in Bayside.

The Draft Strategy is focused on four approaches: Advocate, Partner, Direct Intervention and Support, and Plan. Under these themes, a variety of actions have been set to be delivered over a four-year period to help increase the availability and quality of affordable and social housing in Bayside.

The lack of affordable housing in Bayside means that our residents face a higher risk of extreme lifestyle changes if their income or household changes, such as through a family breakdown or separation, temporary unemployment, accident or injury.

Anyone can need affordable housing if their circumstances change, so it is important that this type of accommodation is available within our municipality.

• 18% of Bayside households live on a very low income
• 23.7% of households renting in Bayside are in rental stress
• 9% of households are in mortgage stress
• 22.2% of local workers earn less than $500 per week
• 59.5% of people working in Bayside live outside the municipality.

Without intervention, the shortage of affordable housing will only increase, strengthening the divide within the community between those that can afford to live in Bayside and those that are forced to leave the area to find more affordable accommodation if they face personal or financial hardship.

Actions from the Affordable Housing Strategy would be implemented over a four-year period.

The Strategy does not require Council to provide financial investment, nor invest in supplying and managing its own social or affordable housing developments in Bayside. Council does not provide or build affordable or social housing. Our role is to encourage and facilitate the provision of affordable housing through the planning system, partnerships and advocacy.

The Strategy also reinforces that new development that is of greater density and includes social and affordable housing will be directed towards activity centres and designated housing growth areas, with energy efficiency objectives already set within the Bayside Planning Scheme.

We’re seeking community feedback on our Draft Affordable Housing Strategy to raise awareness of affordable housing, understand community views, and measure support for our proposed actions.

• Strategic actions under the four themes of Advocacy, Plan, Direct Intervention and Partner. Depending on the level of support, some of these actions can be reviewed, modified or removed.
• New actions to be delivered within the four themes.
• Advocacy to or partnerships with yet-to-be identified organisations.

• The requirement for an Affordable Housing Strategy.
• The type of housing that the Strategy seeks to increase the supply of, i.e. only affordable and public and community (social) housing. Crisis and emergency and transitional housing and market rental and home ownership is not considered as part of this Strategy.
• The residential planning framework, where areas of change and preferred locations to support housing density and diversity are identified.
• Advocacy to State and Federal Governments for the renewal of existing ageing public housing estates in Bayside. This is a current and ongoing initiative.
• State Government changes to Victorian Planning Provisions.
• Service delivery/implementation of this project.

This stakeholder assessment is a generalised understanding of sections of the community that have a connection to the project or matter. This information is used to understand the types of tools and techniques that will achieve the strongest and most effective outcomes for engagement and communication.

Impact: What level of change will the stakeholder / community segment experience as a result of the project/matter

Interest: What level of interest has been expressed or is anticipated

Influence: Reference to the IAP2 Spectrum.

The tools and techniques selected for this project are informed by the project content, stakeholders and type of feedback sought.

The unpredictable impact of COVID-19 restricts our ability for drop-in sessions, as well as slower distribution of mail.

Key tools for communicating the project

• Social media, especially 'sponsored' posts to increase audience
• Digital advertising targeting key demographics and hard-to-reach groups
• Council's e-newsletter This Week in Bayside
• Direct emails and/or addressed mail to key stakeholder groups
• Video explaining affordable housing

Key methods for gathering feedback

• Online engagement through Have Your Say, including opportunity to ask questions, as well as provide feedback
• Liaison with community representatives: Community Development Steering Committee; Bayside Healthy Ageing Reference Group; Disability Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee, Reconciliation Action Plan Group
• One-to-one bookable meetings (in-person or via video subject to COVID-19 restrictions)
• Printed survey and consultation materials available on request.

The Policy is being informed by:

• Affordable Housing Background Report
• Community feedback
• Affordable Housing and Government industry stakeholders
• Related Policies and Plans, including:
  • Bayside Planning Scheme and associated Structure Plans for activity centres.
  • Bayside Council Plan 2017-2021
  • Bayside Community Plan 2025
  • Bayside Community Vision 2050
  • Bayside Housing Strategy 2019
  • Improving Housing Affordability and Social Housing Options in the City of Bayside – Advocacy Action Plan, June 2019
  • The Regional Local Government Homelessness and Social Housing Charter 2020
  • The Local Planning Policy Framework

It is expected that Council will to consider the results of the community engagement and final Draft Strategy at 6.30pm on 15 June 2021 at its Ordinary Meeting. The agenda, including the community engagement report and final Strategy, will be published on 11 June 2021 via Council's website. Project subscribers will be notified of the results of the engagement and the final Strategy at this time.

The 15 June 2021 Meeting of Council be live live-streamed via Council’s website. Community members can also ask a question or request to be heard at this meeting.

If you would like more information please contact Rachael Hudson, Strategic Planner, on 9599 4368 or rhudson@bayside.vic.gov.au