NSW Local Government Housing Kit

The Kit is conveniently divided into five modules providing comprehensive guidance on developing local housing strategies, including understanding and assessing financial viability, formulating policies and strategies, and delivering affordable housing.  Councils can also use individual modules to respond to short term opportunities and gaps, and to adjust to new or emerging issues.

Module 1 – Addressing Housing needs: Context, Roles and Issues.

Module 1 outlines the role of local government in developing housing strategies, how we define affordable housing, the policy context and key players.  It summarises key considerations on addressing housing and recent policy initiatives at state and national level.

Module 2 – Preparing and Implementing a Local Housing Strategy

Module 2 sets out step-by-step guidance to assist in developing a local housing strategy, outlining the role of community and stakeholder engagement; establishing the scope, goals and objectives for the strategy; identifying needs and market conditions; exploring and determining strategies and actions; and implementing and monitoring them. This model encourages councils to look at area of influence as well as their core powers and roles.

Module 3 – Building an Evidence Base

Module 3 provides guidance on developing a comprehensive evidence base and identifies data that can inform a local housing strategy. Much of the data is readily available through ABS and other agency websites and these are specified.

Module 4 – Financial Feasibility Assessment

Understanding feasibility is critical to implementing effective policies and strategies, particularly where councils intend to levy affordable housing contributions.  This module guides users through feasibility analysis.

Module 5 – Case Studies and Resources

This module provides resources for councils including guidance for consultancy studies, case studies and examples from Australia and overseas, a glossary of terms used in the Kit and details of government housing programs and initiatives.

The new edition of the NSW Local Government Housing Kit was commissioned by the Department of Communities and Justice and prepared by Urbanista.

Published by DCJ 2019.

This work is copyright.  It may be reproduced in whole or in part for study or training purposes subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgement of the source.  It may not be reproduced for commercial use or sale.  Reproduction for purposes other than those indicated above requires written permission from the Department of Communities and Justice.

Printable documents of the Local Government Housing Kit