Homelessness and domestic violence bodies are pushing the Albanese Government to commit at least $10 billion of extra funding into social and affordable housing to match “phenomenal demand”. Source: ABC News.
The $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) was announced by Labor in 2023, with a commitment to help deliver 55,000 social and affordable homes by mid‑2029.
About 6000 social and affordable homes have been delivered since May 2022, according to the latest figures provided by the Treasury.
The ABC understands most homes “delivered” are new, but some are existing properties that have been repurposed.
Head of Homelessness Australia, Kate Colvin, said the Government should invest billions more in the HAFF to resolve “blockages right across the accommodation and housing pipeline for women and children fleeing family violence”.
She said the need for social housing and short-term crisis accommodation was far outstripping availability.
“One in four women and children fleeing family violence who come to homeless services are missing out on crisis accommodation,” Ms Colvin said.
“More than half of the families who come seeking medium-term accommodation miss out and a far greater proportion of people who need long-term accommodation.”
The body wants social housing to make up at least 6 per cent of all housing, with an aspiration to reach 10 per cent.
The latest government data shows that around 4 per cent of all households in Australia are social housing.
The head of Marymead CatholicCare Canberra and Goulburn, Anne Kirwan, said her not-for-profit had been able to access the HAFF’s $100 million crisis accommodation program to purchase seven homes in the ACT.
She also wants to see a doubling of the total HAFF allocation.
“We reflect upon that they released $10 billion [in 2023] and then weeks later they released $360 billion for the submarines. So that’s a good comparison point to say there is money in the federal Government and it’s about where the priorities are.”
A spokesperson said the federal Government had invested “more than any government ever in tackling family, domestic and sexual violence”.
“We don’t pre-empt the budget process,” they said.
FULL STORY
Push to double Labor’s $10 billion housing fund as demand soars for social housing (By Lexie Jeuniewic, ABC News)
