Over 250 people have recently turned out in places as far apart as Hornsby, Ku-ring-gai, Sydney City and Blacktown to attend Sydney Alliance Local Council candidate forums and community conversation events. Further north, the Hunter Community Alliance (HCA) has rallied community groups in Morisset, Toronto, Newcastle, Charlestown (regarding Glenrock and Lake Macquarie), Maitland (regarding Raymond Terrace and Medowie), Singleton and Port Stephens. 

Shelter NSW staff and volunteers have put their support behind these self-organising local teams as they developed their knowledge about the housing system and honed the specific asks of their local candidates. Over months, our team has provided detailed policy and strategic advice to Alliance staff and local team leaders. We’ve run training sessions and even developed a ‘Handbook‘ with the help of the Vinnies design team. We’re sharing it here as it can be used by anyone to understand the basics of Affordable Housing and policy advocacy. 

Once the new Councils are confirmed, the local Alliance teams will be following up on the public commitments that were made at recent events. We’ll be there to help support new collaborative relationship with local representatives.