7,000 New Homes Planned Amid Housing Crisis
The Victorian government announced a major investment of $860 million to construct 7,000 new social housing properties. This initiative aims to address the state’s severe housing crisis and provide much-needed relief to those in urgent need.
The Council to Homeless Persons warmly welcomed this commitment. Deborah Di Natale, CEO of the organisation, described it as a significant first step. However, she acknowledged it does not fully meet the current demands. Victoria’s priority housing waiting list currently has 39,000 individuals in dire need of housing.
Di Natale remarked, “This is a significant and welcome investment, and we congratulate the Victorian government for making it. Seven thousand new social housing properties will make a real difference to real people, including families on waiting lists and those experiencing homelessness.”
Urgent Needs Exceed Current Plans
SGS Economics’ modelling indicates that Victoria needs to build 7,990 new social homes each year for the next ten years. This is necessary to raise Victoria to the national average of social housing. The current plan addresses only 10% of what Infrastructure Victoria has recommended for the decade.
Di Natale further highlighted, “The waiting list is longer than it has ever been. People are waiting years for a home they should be able to access now. This investment needs to be the foundation of a long-term, sustained commitment to social housing that meets the crisis.”
The Council to Homeless Persons is advocating for a blend of public and community housing in the new developments. Over the past nine years, only 36 new public housing dwellings have been constructed, according to the Productivity Commission. This highlights the urgent need for more robust housing initiatives.
The organisation looks forward to collaborating with the government to build on this initial step. They emphasise the importance of ensuring that no Victorian is left without a safe place to call home.
The investment is just a starting point. As Di Natale pointed out, “We must be honest about the scale of the crisis we’re facing.” The long-term vision should be to meet the needs of all individuals on the waiting list, which currently stands at 39,000 people. This requires a consistent and strategic approach to housing development.
In addition to the social impact, the construction of new housing is expected to generate jobs and boost the local economy. By addressing homelessness and housing instability, the initiative aims to create a more equitable society.
