The NSW Government is supporting research into the social outcomes of co-operative housing with a grant of $17,000, Fair Trading Minister, Linda Burney, announced today at the Living Co-operatively Symposium at Petersham Town Hall.

Ms Burney said the grant, presented to conference organisers, the Association to Resource Co-operative Housing (ARCH), would support a research study identifying the specific social outcomes for tenants of co-operative housing.

“Co-operative housing is a great housing alternative for low to moderate income earners,” Ms Burney said.

“This research is vital because, by examining the health, employment, education, safety and developmental outcomes of co-operative housing, a framework for future ventures can be set up with the emphasis on enhancing the lifestyle of the tenants and their families.

“I await the research results with interest and hope to see some recommendations on how to strengthen the co-operative model.

“Groups looking to establish housing co-operatives will have clear strategies to ensure their co-operatives are able to deliver strong social outcomes.” 

Fair Trading is responsible for the regulation of co-operatives and provides advice and support to potential and current co-operatives.

The funding falls within Fair Trading’s Co-operatives Development Grants Program that enhances the sustainability of the sector by supporting education and feasibility studies and research projects like this one. 

“There are currently around 70 registered co-operatives in the state that have a direct involvement in providing housing, out of a total of approximately 750 co-ops,” Ms Burney said. 

“Co-operatives make a significant contribution both socially and economically. Membership in NSW is currently in excess of 1.5 million and they provide employment for 10,000 people.”

Another initiative by the NSW Government was the establishment of the Centre for Affordable Housing as a business unit of the Department of Housing. 

“Fair Trading has further strengthened this commitment to the Centre by providing $40 million over the past 10 years in rental bond interest funds.”

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