Community Housing Industry Association Victoria says it’s encouraging to see plans progressing to build more social housing in the state through direct government investments.
The Victorian Government has announced it will redevelop the old Carlton red brick social housing towers with part of the state’s share of the Federal Government’s $2 billion Social Housing Accelerator funding.
CHIA Vic acting CEO Jess Pomeroy said it’s crucial that the community housing sector plays a significant role in the delivery of new social and affordable homes.
“With Victoria lagging behind the rest of the country on social housing provision, it is absolutely critical that our state builds more social housing as quickly as possible,” Ms Pomeroy said.
“The community housing sector stands eager and ready to continue partnering with governments to improve existing social housing and build more of it. Our not-for-profit sector can stretch taxpayer dollars further, and deliver more homes at less cost to the government.
“Under the Big Housing Build, the community housing sector is building more than 4,200 new homes, and has grown in size and sophistication to be the key delivery partner of affordable housing in Victoria.
“It’s encouraging to see the Federal and Victorian Governments leading the nation by partnering and working on plans to build more and improved social housing in the state with new direct investments.
“The Commonwealth's Social Housing Accelerator and the Housing Australia Future Fund, as well as the Victorian Government’s $1 billion Regional Housing Fund are welcome investments that our state needs to see more of if we want to end rental stress and homelessness.
“As the Victorian Government works on the final details of its Housing Statement, we urge them to keep the momentum going in social housing growth by committing to a long-term plan with long-term investments. Victoria needs thousands of social housing dwellings built every year to meet the shortfall and end the housing crisis.”
Media contact: Sofie Wainwright 0403 920 301