3,157 Shovel-Ready Projects to Save Jobs and Address Sydney's Priority Social Housing Waiting List

The NSW Government should look no further for a list of 3,157 shovel-ready projects to stimulate the economy and protect the most vulnerable.

With 3,157 applications on the priority waiting list for social housing in Sydney alone, NCOSS is urging the NSW Government build up to 5,000 new social and affordable housing units in the next 12 months.

This will save jobs in the construction industry, house every person on the Sydney social housing priority waiting list and take more people off the general waiting list.

According to modelling from Equity Economics, up to 85,000 jobs are at risk in the residential construction sector across NSW over the next 18 months.

As well as this, 97,000 SMEs dependent on residential construction are at risk of not reopening their doors in NSW without additional investment.

“If the NSW Government invests in a social and affordable housing boom, we can support tradies, at the same time as provide housing for our most vulnerable,” said NCOSS CEO Joanna Quilty.

“With some families waiting for more than 10 years to get into social housing and priority cases waiting up to two years, we should be rolling out a social and affordable construction boom across the state.

“Not only will it house the most vulnerable, our modelling estimates that constructing 5,000 additional social and affordable housing units would support 18,000 construction jobs across NSW.

“This will deliver short-term stimulus to the residential construction sector and household wealth, and long-term benefits through improved housing security, health and economic participation.

“This is a prime opportunity for the NSW Government to work with the community housing sector and the construction industry to invest in social and affordable housing, and support jobs, SMEs and NSW’s vulnerable citizens,” Ms Quilty said.

Here is the list of social housing priority applications that the NSW Government can fund and deliver to stimulate the economy, keep people in jobs and get a roof over the heads of people in need:

Media contact: Nick Trainor 0407 078 138