THE HON STEPHEN JONES MP

ASSISTANT TREASURER

MINISTER FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES

MEMBER FOR WHITLAM

FIONA PHILLIPS MP

MEMBER FOR GILMORE

ALISON BYRNES MP

MEMBER FOR CUNNINGHAM

MEDIA RELEASE

Local families in need are set to benefit from a new 20-unit social housing project which has been officially opened in Warilla today. The $10.5 million building, completed by Southern Youth and Family Services (SYFS), is jointly funded by both the State and Federal Governments.

Opened today by Federal and State Members of Parliament and SYFS representatives, the premises which is adjacent to Southern Youth and Family Services’ Community Hub boasts 1 and 2-bedroom units of affordable social housing for young people and their families. It’s estimated the facility will provide accommodation for around 25 to 35 young people and children in the Illawarra at any given time, with applications already flooding in.

More than $5.6 million has been provided for the local project under the Building Better Regions Fund, and over $4.8 million from the New South Wales Government’s Community Housing Innovation Fund.

Disadvantaged young people and families will additionally benefit from co-located case management, education, training and pre-employment supports, as well as a range of health and support services as part of the project. It will also further increase the capacity of SYFS to provide local services.

Quotes attributable to Stephen Jones, Member for Whitlam:

“I want to thank Southern Youth and Family Services for their tireless work helping our community. It’s no secret property prices and rental prices are putting a strain on our most vulnerable. This newly constructed social housing project in Warilla is going to make a real impact and help those in need of a roof over their head.”

“Ahead of the federal election last year, the Prime Minister, my colleagues Alison Byrnes, Fiona Phillips, Jason Clare and I stood right here in Warilla and promised to increase the supply of social and affordable housing in the Illawarra.”

“We know there is more work to be done. That’s why our Government is also investing an extra $2 billion to help deliver thousands of new social rental homes across Australia. We are also waiting on the Greens and Coalition cease their efforts to block our $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund, which aims to create 30,000 affordable homes across the nation.”

Quotes attributable to Fiona Phillips, Member for Gilmore:

“I am delighted to welcome these new social housing units provided by Southern Youth and Family Services. I’d also like to acknowledge the fantastic work that SYFS does further south throughout the Shoalhaven and Eurobodalla,”

“Facilities like this are so important, particularly for the most vulnerable in our community, and I look forward to seeing more social housing options providing the safety and security that our community deserves,”

“There’s a long way to go, but I’m proud to be part of a government that is working to help those most in need,”

“The positive effects of projects like this are felt very broadly across our community, not just for the people who living in these units. I look forward to working with the NSW Government to deliver more housing options like this across the South Coast.”

Quotes attributable to Alison Byrnes, Member for Cunningham:

“Congratulations Narelle Clay and the entire team at Southern Youth and Family Services (SYFS) on the opening of this fantastic project. Not only will this twenty-unit dwelling help put a roof over the head of up to thirty-five young community members, but it was also a great contributor to our local economy. More than 330 local jobs were created during the construction of this building, including several First Nations workers.”

“Services like SYFS are making real change in people’s lives by providing affordable accommodation to those in need. It’s been great to see the Albanese Labor Government invest an additional $2 billion to invest in social and affordable housing, and I look forward to working with the new Minns Labor Government to get projects like this up-and-running for our community.”