Investment Shortfall Threatens Progress
Significant funding is essential for Victoria to keep pace with other Australian states in social housing by 2030, warns a new analysis by Community Housing Industry Association Victoria (CHIA Vic). According to the analysis, Victoria’s social housing share is projected to grow by only 0.02 percentage points by 2030, despite the Big Housing Build initiative.
Sarah Toohey, CEO of CHIA Vic, emphasised, “Without a funding pipeline from the government, we’re set to fall even further behind every other state on the proportion of social housing.”
More than 56,000 families are currently on a growing waitlist for social housing in Victoria. Although the state’s Big Housing Build has increased the social housing stock, it remains insufficient to meet demand. This initiative plans to deliver 9,300 social homes by 2030, which is far short of the needs.
Comparative State Performance
Queensland is planning to add over 17,000 social homes, and New South Wales targets nearly 15,000 by 2030. Both states already possess a higher proportion of social housing compared to Victoria. As of June 2025, Queensland has 76,426 social homes, with a projection of 93,903 by 2030, boosting its share from 3.51% to 4.00%.
CHIA Vic recommends that the Victorian government increase its baseline funding to $620 million annually over the next decade to match Queensland’s approach, considering Victoria’s larger population. The current social housing stock in Victoria stands at 87,356 homes, with projections indicating growth to 96,712 by 2030.
Despite these efforts, Victoria’s social housing proportion will only slightly increase from 3.21% to 3.23% by 2030. In contrast, Tasmania is projected to expand its social housing proportion from 5.59% to 7.41%.
CHIA Vic urges the Victorian government to act on these recommendations during its upcoming budget discussions. The aim is to close the gap with states like Queensland, which has committed $5.6 billion over four years to accelerate social housing growth.
The analysis stresses that without increased investment, Victoria risks a widening gap in social housing provision compared to other states and territories. In its pre-budget submission, CHIA Vic has called on Victoria’s Labour government to outspend LNP-led Queensland on social housing to close that gap.
Last updated: 6 April 2026, 12:04 pm
