The Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA) has welcomed the announcement of the first round of commitments from the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF), which will see 13,700 social and affordable homes built, housing more than 25,000 Australians in need.
Funded projects will include 4,220 social and 9,522 affordable homes, including 1,267 homes for women and children escaping domestic violence and older women at risk of homelessness. "This announcement demonstrates that the reforms we've long advocated are beginning to deliver," CHIA CEO Wendy Hayhurst said. "It's heartening to see the Commonwealth taking decisive action to address Australia's housing crisis – and not a moment too soon. And, with the funding tap at last beginning to flow, it's also re-assuring that the government plans a second round of allocations to take place early in the New Year.
"CHIA strongly believes that the HAFF program must be viewed as part of the broader, coordinated and sustained effort required if Australian governments are to make any appreciable impact on the huge backlog of need". "This announcement represents solid progress we wholeheartedly commend. Of course, it doesn't fix the problem overnight, and no one would suggest it does. When you're tackling a housing crisis that has been decades in the making, the key is to show long-term commitment and to steadily make inroads.
"The enduring significance of today's program launch will depend on whether it marks the re-start of a national investment push maintained and expanded in future years. Only then will we start to see a measurable reduction in unmet housing need and a meaningful contribution to moderating rents at the lower end of the private market.
"Thankfully, with the HAFF beginning to bear fruit, and with both Housing Australia and the Housing Supply Council now firing on all cylinders, we now have the necessary mechanisms and institutions to properly begin the mammoth task of turning our housing system around". CHIA looks forward to continuing its work with all levels of government, industry and unions to address Australia's housing challenges and create more opportunities for those in need of stable, affordable housing.
