Basic needs vs complex policy

1. Basic needs vs complex policy Dr Simon Emsley Learn to listen: what communities are saying about housing 050411 FMRC

2. Basic needs/ complex policy Introduction • Reflections on conducting community-based research around housing – what should we be talking to communities about; how should we be doing it? • Examples where community-based research has worked to empower aspects of community Learn to listen: what communities are saying about housing 050411 FMRC

3. Housing is a basic need Learn to listen: what communities are saying about housing 050411 FMRC

4. Security – place – shelter – belonging – privacy (?) Learn to listen: what communities are saying about housing 050411 FMRC

5. Basic needs • Health – Wellbeing – mental health • Educational capacity • Ability to participate (employment outcomes) • Can be viewed either as a right or a means to greater social productivity Learn to listen: what communities are saying about housing 050411 FMRC

6. Needs not met for many • 100,000 homeless • 850,000 in housing stress • Lower income families housing insecure • Some suburbs show very high occupancy turnover (numbers new bonds in Auburn 40% of all households) • Rising level person per dwelling since 2005 Learn to listen: what communities are saying about housing 050411 FMRC

7. Source. Local Govt Housing Kit Database. Feb 2011 Learn to listen: what communities are saying about housing 050411 FMRC

8. Housing stress = housing costs/household income • Housing inequity reflects income and wealth inequality, and therefore power relations in the community • Advocating for housing equity should challenges established relations of class power Learn to listen: what communities are saying about housing 050411 FMRC

9. Complex policy • Policies governing access to social housing • Welfare transfers funding social housing (National Affordable Housing Agreement) • National Rental Affordability Scheme incentives • Taxation incentives (negative gearing, stamp duties etc) • Planning incentives Learn to listen: what communities are saying about housing 050411 FMRC

10. Complex advocacy tasks • Advocacy has tended to advance housing equity `under the radar’ • NRAS – stimulating construction through targeted bonus to investment capital • Value of market maintained – market failure • Anti-renter policies maintained* qualify • Should Commonwealth Rental Allowance be raised? (argument within Shelter on this) Learn to listen: what communities are saying about housing 050411 FMRC

11. Is complexity a means of naturalising housing inequity? • Political complexities of advancing housing equity • Reaction of vested interests – developers oppose affordable housing contribution; home owner lobby; dominant political position (market is class neutral) Learn to listen: what communities are saying about housing 050411 FMRC

12. Learn to listen: what communities are saying about housing 050411 FMRC

13. Council says no to Condell Park boarding house Canterbury Bankstown Express 30/3/11 by BIANCA MARTINS The site proposed for the boarding house at Simmat Ave, Condell Park. A DEVELOPMENT application to build a nine-room boarding house in Simmat Ave, Condell Park, was refused by Bankstown Council at last Tuesday night’s meeting. The boarding house, which proposed to accommodate up to 18 people, was rejected by all councillors except for Max Parker. Critics said it was not in the public interest, was inconsistent with the character of the area and would have an adverse impact on amenities and traffic. A debate erupted between Cr Parker, who backed the proposal, and objectors Cr Allan Winterbottom and Cr Ian Stromborg. “It’s not a very wide street,” Cr Winterbottom said. “There’s a lot of traffic and it’s the only horse zone (Bankstown Trotting Club is nearby) in Bankstown. With only one car spot and 15 to 20 cars set to be there, it’s ridiculous.” Learn to listen: what communities are saying about housing 050411 FMRC

14. Finding/giving housing need a voice Housing Affordability Rental Housing SEPP review Response 6.1 That the Department works with the boarding house industry, NSW Housing and other stakeholders, on ways to improve the community’s perception of the new boarding house model encouraged by AHSEPP Learn to listen: what communities are saying about housing 050411 FMRC

15. Community and class • Community is not a unitary object with one set of interests • Housing advocacy is partisan/class interested activity • This aspect of housing advocacy has been undertheorised – is it possible to engage communities alienated from housing system without first thinking this through? Learn to listen: what communities are saying about housing 050411 FMRC

16. Past attempts to engage • 1. Canterbury Child and Family Housing and Health Survey • 2. Photovoice (SSWAHS) nutrition project • 3. A Sense of Home (Fairfield Housing Taskforce proposed project) • All these projects involve exploring positive feelings of participants to housing/health Learn to listen: what communities are saying about housing 050411 FMRC

17. Canterbury Child and Family Housing and Health Survey Learn to listen: what communities are saying about housing 050411 FMRC

18. Features of survey Focus: Health as a basic `non-housing outcome’ of good housing Family health interagency initiative – no extra resources Engaged bilingual service workers in survey development (consultation – training) Methodology/ethics oversight by UWS Attracted input from UWS and UNSW Learn to listen: what communities are saying about housing 050411 FMRC

19. Results • 107 interviews – 20 fields • Highlighted need for information around property inspection and other aspects of rental process • Strong indication of community awareness of relationship between health/wellbeing and housing security/affordability • Surprise – positive attitude towards area they were living in – due to social mix of community Learn to listen: what communities are saying about housing 050411 FMRC

20. Presentation of findings another opportunity • Participants and interviews interested in findings • Broader community interest • Academic presentations on housing and health • Launched by Mayor Learn to listen: what communities are saying about housing 050411 FMRC

21. Learn to listen: what communities are saying about housing 050411 FMRC

22. Longer term results • Canterbury Housing working group continued (what is it doing now?) • Canterbury Council more closely focussed on Affordable Housing issues • May have contributed to Federal priorities (eg NRAS) in post election period • Overcrowding/flats examined by Shelter NSW • Review of property inspection information etc. Learn to listen: what communities are saying about housing 050411 FMRC

23. Photovoice project Learn to listen: what communities are saying about housing 050411 FMRC

24. What makes people feel special in your family? How do you make your family feel special? Krishan: My mother-in-law migrated from Fiji and we had a BBQ to welcome her, that she’s part of the family now. She was helping and enjoying the BBQ. It made her feel very special. She lives with us: it’s three generations together. (Photovoice Project, SSWAHS) Learn to listen: what communities are saying about housing 050411 FMRC

25. Sevy Atsalis: After I breastfeed the baby (Katerine), dad (John) spends quiet time with the baby while I feed the other four children. The book (Old Macdonalds Farm) is a favorite in our family – we received it in our Early Literacy project bag and John is whispering the rhyme to the baby. John travels a lot so quiet time without the TV is important. Learn to listen: what communities are saying about housing 050411 FMRC

26. Learn to listen: what communities are saying about housing 050411 FMRC

27. A Sense of Home (Fairfield Housing Taskforce) • Community artist and digital camera workshops • Capturing text and photos for exhibition • Focus on strengths – what makes your home good, what makes a home feel like a home? • Long-run process attached to interagency • Fairfield Council Cultural Grant Learn to listen: what communities are saying about housing 050411 FMRC