Social Housing Set to Decline Amid New Targets, CHIA Vic

CHIA Vic chief executive Sarah Toohey said the sector's roadmap is vital to help build Victoria out of the housing crisis. "The housing crisis is dire and the only way out of it is for governments to inject serious money and resources into building more of the homes that are guaranteed to be affordable for the people who need them most," Ms Toohey said. "Victoria has the lowest proportion of social housing out of all Australia's states and territories. If the Victorian Government reaches its housing targets of 800,000 homes over the next decade, the proportion of social housing will slip even further behind unless this includes meaningful social housing targets and investment. "This month marks four years since the Big Housing Build was announced. With 10,000 homes under construction or complete, that record funding boost is nearing its end. "Having shown it can deliver the historic Big Housing Build, the state government must now turn the funding tap back on with a $6 billion stream into the Social Housing Growth Fund, so that it can flow into more homes over the next decade. The federal government must build on its investments by lifting the HAFF investment to $50 billion to deliver homes over the next ten years. Together, these investments combined with an Affordable Housing Contribution Scheme could help deliver 89,000 social homes for Victorians in just ten years. "Victoria is at a crossroads. New investments by the state and federal governments have started to lift Victoria's social housing numbers out of the abyss, but without bold action and dedicated long-term funding from governments we will slip back down. With the right funding settings in place, community housing can do much more to shift the dial on the housing crisis and build a future where every Victorian has access to decent, affordable housing." CHIA Vic's 10 year roadmap recommendations include: