Funding boost for social housing in Yass

Local Community Housing Provider Argyle Housing is planning to undertake upgrades to approximately 70 social housing properties in Yass, improving the liveability of these homes for tenants.

Work is expected to begin by the end of June 2021 and funding will help in improving the quality, safety, and comfort of homes with new roofs, gutters and fences, as well as replacing windows and painting exterior walls.

Wendy Middleton, CEO of Argyle Housing, said that this is an amazing opportunity from the NSW Government to improve social and economic outcomes of regional cities through the investment in social housing.

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"We will be engaging with local regional contractors and working with them throughout the procurement process to ensure that they receive the opportunity to realise the employment and economic benefits of this program," Ms Middleton said.

"Our main goal is to provide modern upgrades to existing dwellings that better meets the needs of current and future tenants in Yass."

"With the extreme cold temperatures that are experienced for long periods throughout the year in the region, we hope these measures contribute to supporting positive outcomes for our tenants in Yass."

The project is part of the $3.8m tender awarded to Argyle Housing from the NSW Government to upgrade 300 social housing properties from Campbelltown to Yass through to Bowral, Moss Vale, Young, Crookwell, Goulburn, and Wagga Wagga.

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These areas are the beneficiaries of the NSW Government's $40 million capital works program for social housing.

Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman said local Community Housing Provider Argyle Housing is upgrading homes across its portfolio through the program.

"This NSW Government program has improved our housing stock while providing jobs for tradespeople and injecting cash into our local economy," Mrs Tuckerman said.

"It's having a direct impact here in our local community. I spoke to local resident Alan Ward in Yass whose window was replaced and whose house was painted through the scheme."

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Minister for Water, Property and Housing, Melinda Pavey said the program is delivering capital works for more than 2000 properties across NSW that are owned by the NSW Land and Housing Corporation and managed by Community Housing Providers.

"The program is supporting more than 350 jobs across NSW, with more than half of them in regional areas," Mrs Pavey said.

"We're improving the quality of homes for thousands of social housing tenants and families across NSW while supporting local businesses that supply workers with the tools, trades and building materials to give these properties a fresh lick of paint or building works."