New figures reveal Vic Government delivering strongly on regional social housing

A new breakdown of more than 1000 new homes slated to be built in regional Victoria reveals almost 90 per cent will be social housing.

Council to Homeless Persons welcomed the Victorian Government’s announcement on Tuesday, with the Regional Housing Fund’s first 1025 homes set to include 700 public, 211 community and 114 affordable dwellings.

The location of the homes by region for the $1 billion fund has also been announced, along with a suite of measures designed to tackle the housing crisis, including 50 activity centres in suburbs with good access to transport, schools, maternal and child health facilities. 

CHP is calling for the Victorian Government to commit to a set proportion of social housing in these new active neighbourhoods.

Council to Homeless Persons Acting Chief Executive Officer Tom Johnson welcomed the Regional Housing Fund’s focus on social housing. 

“This important announcement will make a real difference in the lives of regional Victorians struggling to put a roof over their heads,” he said.

“The Victorian Government must be applauded for responding to the huge demand we’re seeing in regional areas for more public and community housing.

“Over the past week, the Victorian Government has sent a strong message that public housing is a top-line priority. 

“About 70 per cent of these new Regional Housing Fund homes will be public housing. That is essential because we know people experiencing homelessness get the best outcomes in public housing.

“Research has shown a strong correlation between public housing and preventing homelessness because it offers long-term, secure homes for people who wouldn’t otherwise have access to that important stability.

“The recently announced activity centres across 50 suburbs are the perfect opportunity to bring even more social housing into the mix. 

“As more detail on activity centres is released, we’re calling for that to include a social housing guarantee so that a set proportion are public and community homes.

“This is a straightforward change that will deliver enormous benefits for the tens of thousands of Victorians who go to sleep each night experiencing homelessness.

“These areas have been identified because of their great access to transport, schools, maternal and child health facilities. 

“Having those services close to social housing generates the best outcomes for residents.”

Fast facts:

• Homelessness in Victoria rose 24% at the last Census
• In 2021, more than 30,000 Victorians were without a home on Census night – almost 6,000 more than the previous Census in 2016
• In June there were 61,587 applications for public and community housing on the waiting list
• Victoria lags behind every other state and territory on social housing, with public and community housing residents making up just 2.8% of Victoria’s households