Advocates for social and affordable housing are issuing a powerful plea to the New South Wales government, urging it to honour its own commitment to allocate 30 per cent of dwellings for vulnerable residents in the major Broadmeadow redevelopment. The call comes as the Hunter region grapples with soaring rents, record-low vacancy rates, and escalating personal stories of housing insecurity.
Personal stories highlight systemic failure
At a recent community meeting, individuals with firsthand experience of the housing crisis shared harrowing accounts. Laura, who asked for her surname to be withheld, detailed a nine-year struggle that began when she fled family violence at age 23. "What I didn't know then was escaping abuse would lead to years of housing insecurity and repeated homelessness," she said.
Despite being placed on the high-priority social housing list, Laura faced years of waiting. When finally offered a home, it was unsuitable, pushing her back into homelessness. As pre-existing injuries from her past reduced her mobility, she was approved for a transfer but told no accessible housing was available. "After almost a decade of fleeing violence I am only now about to finally be safe in a home that meets my needs," she stated, arguing that government inaction forces impossible choices: "Return to abuse or live life on the streets."
Another voice, Nonie Hedges, described coming perilously close to homelessness following a relationship breakdown and a financial scam. "I was exposed, frightened and alone," she recounted. "How was I facing homelessness in my older age after I had spent my whole life working and helping my community?" Hedges emphasised the critical shortage of safe, affordable housing, particularly for older women.
A major test for government policy
The Hunter Community Alliance (HCA), a coalition including Shelter NSW, the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association, and the Community Disability Alliance Hunter, is leading the campaign. They are calling for a guaranteed 30 per cent social and affordable housing allocation on government-owned land within the Broadmeadow precinct, which is slated for up to 20,000 new dwellings.
This demand directly challenges the state government's August announcement of a 5 to 10 per cent affordable housing target for rezoned sites, a figure local councils and The Greens have labelled insufficient. The HCA argues that with at least 3,200 homes expected on surplus government land in Broadmeadow, this is a prime opportunity to deliver for those in need. "If social housing isn't prioritised here, on public land, then where?" asked Bärbel Winter of Shelter NSW.
Danielle Whyte from the Car-To-Home project highlighted the scale of the crisis, noting the social housing waitlist in Newcastle exceeds 2,000 people. "Broadmeadow must deliver homes people on low incomes can actually live in. Anything less is a missed opportunity to build a fairer Newcastle," she said.
The broader crisis and a call for action
The push for concrete targets at Broadmeadow is set against a backdrop of a severe regional housing shortage. While advocates welcome billions in state and federal funding for social housing, they stress that strategic developments on public land are crucial for immediate impact.
HCA organiser Erin Killion pointed to a commitment made by Minister Rose Jackson in April that the Hunter would receive its fair share of social housing investment. "Broadmeadow is a major test. Its success will be measured by whether it delivers homes for those who need them most," Killion stated.
The alliance's formal calls to the government include:
- A guaranteed 30 per cent social and affordable housing quota on government-owned land in Broadmeadow.
- Transparent and measurable housing targets for the development.
- A diverse mix of homes that reflects the needs of Newcastle's low-income and vulnerable residents.
Without this minimum allocation, advocates warn the landmark Broadmeadow redevelopment risks exacerbating inequality and leaving behind the community members most in need of secure, affordable homes.
