Victoria's peak body for community housing has welcomed the announcement of funding for more than 1,200 new social homes across the state as part of round two of the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF).
The latest HAFF round features projects jointly funded by the Commonwealth and State Governments, and will see 1,275 new social homes delivered in Victoria across 25 projects, including more than 100 homes for Aboriginal Victorians.
Community Housing Industry Association Victoria (CHIA Vic) spokesperson Jess Pomeroy said the HAFF funding would mean more safe and affordable social housing can be delivered for people who desperately need it.
"As the housing crisis continues to bite, it's heartening to see state and federal governments working together to provide the urgent financial support needed to build more social homes," she said.
"Across the first two rounds of the HAFF, Victoria has received the highest amount of investment at $4.3 billion, which will deliver 5,418 social and affordable homes, the most of any state or territory. This represents more than 30 per cent of the total funding pool and almost 30 per cent of all homes.
"While this will make a big difference to many people's lives, Victoria still needs far more investment to meet the crushing demand for social housing and undo the impacts of years of underinvestment.
"Waiting lists for social housing continue to grow and currently 146,000 families and individuals need a rent-capped home they can actually afford.
"Recent data shows that Victoria needs 80,000 new homes over the next 10 years to reach a minimum target of 4.5% social housing, which is the national average. Currently, Victoria is sitting at the bottom of the league table at 2.9%, which means we have a substantial way to go.
"To address this gap, we need to see all levels of government continuing to work together to create the funding certainty and planning environment that will support the ongoing growth of the not-for-profit community housing sector.
"Our charitable sector has the experience to deliver the social homes that Victorians need. The scale of Victoria's HAFF projects demonstrates the community housing sector's capacity to build, deliver and manage more affordable homes for people in need."
