Two of the five least affordable suburbs in Greater Sydney are in the Wentworth Electorate where more than 45% rent and over 20,000 are employed as essential workers. Shelter NSW was happy to support National Shelter CEO Emma Greenhalgh at the second Housing Forum hosted by Allegra Spender (Federal Member for Wentworth) in Sydney’s east  Ms Spender is to be commended for recognising renters as a large and important part of her constituency. 
 
Emma provided a national perspective on the need for funding certainty and a long term strategic plan in the form of the National Homelessness and Housing Plan; intentionally designed, rather than cobbled together. Emma also spoke of the need for rental reform and pointed to National Shelter’s work with the National Association of Rental Organisations (representing 80 organisations) and the senate inquiry underway at that time. 

Emma took the opportunity to showcase Anne Street Gardens , a small but award-winning social housing development in Southport on the Gold Coast as an example of well-designed project taking account of climate and community needs (image below).