Sydney Alliance

After a 10-year hiatus (yes we forgot our password 😆), we have just relaunched our Instagram account! You can give it a follow to keep up to date with our activities over there. Link to Instagram: https://lnkd.in/ggxheNTU

It was a memorable experience organising with my colleagues and leaders the Sydney Alliance Convention 2024 on Housing, Energy and Climate. Over 420 delegates from 38 civil society organisations, 4 politicians and other 6 represented by staffers (from different political parties) gathered last Wednesday in Blacktown. 👏 We recognised the NSW Government for delivering on commitments made to us in our last assembly in February 2023: the ban on No Grounds Evictions, investment in more social housing, and social housing energy upgrades. This, because when politicians deliver their commitments to our alliance, we recognise them publicly - we have a relationship of accountability. 👥️ Delegates explored what our clear vision for dignified homes🏡 and well-resourced communities👨👩👦👦 in Sydney looks like, and what the federal government can do in the next 4 years to make that a reality. As organised Civil Society in Sydney, we are keen to work with the next Federal government towards this vision. 🙂It’s rare for politicians to attend public events primarily to listen. Our Alliance is working to create something new. And we did it. Politicians in the room listened and reflected on the stories they heard. 🫱🏿🫲🏽We are now preparing for a public negotiation across political parties in our pre-election assembly early next year. Organised Civil Society in Sydney is getting ready to act!🤩 📸 Chris Mifsud-Evans

Housing was in the spotlight at this year’s 2024 Sydney Alliance Convention, providing the opportunity to meet with political and community leaders, share the stories of our community, and advocate for better housing availability and affordability, and support for our programs including: 🏠 Our nationally accredited Houses to Homes program, which supports young women and children who are homeless or at serious risk or homelessness, and 👨👩👧👦 Our refugee sponsorship program, which provides essential accommodation and supports for local refugee families in their first 12 months of arrival to Australia, and beyond. Thank you to Houses to Homes coordinator Maree Hanna and refugee sponsorship coordinator Rita Hakkoum for sharing the stories of our clients at the event and advocating for improved housing and living affordability.

Today’s Herald reporting that Michael Regan MP and The NSW Greens arguing for greater affordable housing %s in transport oriented developments. Michael said ““[It] needs to be at least 15 per cent affordable social housing in perpetuity with TODs, not 2 per cent so, so our teachers, nurses, drivers, cleaners, cooks, police … can live and work in their communities.” Keep it up. The Sydney Alliance and Hunter Community Alliance are arguing that 2% on sites over 2500sq m is far far too low. Hunter leaders will be meeting with the the Planning and Housing ministers about raising the affordable housing %s around the 8 transport oriented developments in the Hunter. Civil society supports densification when affordable housing contributions are significant and ample. Greg Piper MP, Alex Greenwich MP, Scott Farlow, Paul Scully, Alice Thompson, Eamon Waterford https://lnkd.in/gdfg8KXm