A NEW deal brokered between the state government and Argyle Community Housing (ACH) will do little to solve the increasing number of boarded-up houses appearing in Ashmont and Tolland.
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The not-for-profit will have about 95 houses transferred to it from NSW Land and Housing Corporation with it expected to leverage the additional properties, allowing it to borrow money from banks to create 65 "new dwellings".
While the deal will see ACH increase the amount of houses available in the city for low-income families, its chairman Chris Bratchford said fewer than five of the properties are boarded-up houses.
"This deal is a first of its kind," Mr Bratchford said.
"So it could lead to other deals which could involve older properties held by the state government."
The deal is part of a statewide project which will see 1300 properties across the state transferred to community housing providers as part of the government's nation-building stimulus project.
The Advertiser counted about four boarded-up houses in just one block in Ashmont, with its residents who didn't wish to be named asking for the NSW Land and Housing Corporation or Housing NSW to clean it up.
"I've tired of looking at it but I don't know what to do," one resident said.
Mr Bratchford said while the boarded-up houses weren't part of this current deal, ACH endeavoured to create sustainable, affordable housing.
"This partnership is creating a new model of public housing and allowing us to support more tenants," he said.
