The ACT Government is delivering immediate cost-of-living and housing relief for renters while increasing housing supply across Canberra.
Through the 2026-27 ACT Budget, which is expected to pass the Legislative Assembly this week, we are delivering on key commitments and making a generational investment in housing for all Canberrans.
To support Canberran's facing housing stress, the Government's new Housing Crisis Support Fund administered by Care Inc. will open for applications next Wednesday 30 September 2026.
This $5.2 million investment will provide practical and meaningful financial assistance to low-income renters facing hardship.
Thousands of renters will be able to stay in secure housing through one-off grants to cover up to four weeks rent, capped at $2,500 and targeted $250 crisis support payment. This new crisis support payment has been introduced to assist with essential household expenses such as utilities, insurance, and basic furnishings.
In 2026-27 the Fund also provides a $250 support payment for newly housed public housing tenants.
In addition to the Housing Crisis Support Fund, set to provide immediate relief to renters at risk of homelessness, the 2026-27 ACT Budget delivers more broadly on the Government's ambitious housing agenda.
Further initiatives in the 2026-27 Budget include:
- more than $360 million over four years to support the new Public Housing Pipeline delivering an additional 450 additional public homes
- a significant increase in investment in our existing public housing with more than $180 million in additional funding to strengthen public housing repairs and maintenance – brining the program's total to more than $401.5 million over four years
- a new loan guarantee program backed by the Housing Australia Future Fund to support the community housing sector and unlock more than 1,000 affordable homes in the ACT
- expanding stamp duty exemptions and abolishing stamp duty for all first home buyers to open the door for more Canberrans to enter the housing market sooner
- investment in land release through our Housing Supply and Land Release program (2026-27 to 2030-31) which sets out a clear, forward-looking pipeline to increase housing supply and is expected to enable more than 25,700 new homes over the next five years
- investment in a range of measures to support the delivery of Missing Middle housing.
Together, the Housing Crisis Support Fund and the Government's recent significant investment in housing ensures Canberrans have access to both short-term assistance and long-term housing options whether they are renting, building, or buying, as we work towards our goal of enabling 30,000 homes by 2030.
