Affordable housing for North-West NGOs, Grylls

Author: Brendon Grylls
Published on: 09-November-2011

Staff of non-government organisations (NGOs) delivering critical services in the Pilbara and Kimberley will benefit from 58 houses funded by the State Government.

Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls said $35million in Royalties for Regions funding had delivered affordable housing to 29 NGOs in Karratha, Newman, South Hedland, Kununurra, Derby, Roebourne, Halls Creek and Broome.

“The Government provided this funding as a strategic intervention to ensure the delivery of NGO services in the North-West of the State is not compromised due to a lack of affordable housing,” Mr Grylls said.

“The allocation committee aimed to provide housing to a wide range of organisations and the excellent outcome is that 58 properties have been allocated to 29 NGOs in eight towns.

“The program will also support the social wellbeing and sustainability of these regional communities by keeping vital services in these towns.”

Housing Minister Troy Buswell said affordability was a key issue in the North-West and this initiative would see the Government lease properties to NGOs at a discounted rate.

“Suitable housing is critical to ensure community services such as education; health; drug and alcohol counselling; Aboriginal community health care; and legal services can continue to operate,” Mr Buswell said.

“These 58 houses will provide employees of NGOs delivering these critical State Government-funded services in the North-West with much-needed affordable rental options.

“We recognise that affordability is an issue across the State, and have introduced a number of initiatives as part of the State Affordable Housing Strategy launched earlier this year.”

NGO staff will move into most of the properties this month, with the remainder to be occupied early in 2012.