The ACT Government has an ambitious and responsible agenda to deliver more social, public, community and affordable homes for Canberrans.
The ACT Government will begin a new Public Housing Pipeline program to build and buy an additional 450 new public homes, supported by the Territory Priority Projects legislation which means Canberrans can move into these homes sooner.
The Government is using a hybrid delivery model, combining new builds on greenfield land, redevelopment of existing sites, and market acquisitions, to accelerate delivery and respond to market conditions.
More than half of these dwellings will be supported for funding by the ACT Government through the Commonwealth Government’s Housing Australia Future Fund Facility Round 3 (HAFFF3). Government-owned HAFFF 3 dwellings will be managed and operated by Community Housing Providers over a period of 25 years.
The measures progress our commitment to grow the Territory’s public housing portfolio to 13,200 homes by the end of 2030, as well as the commitment to deliver an additional 5,000 public, community and affordable rental dwellings by the end of 2030.
The Government will provide:
- An additional $364 million investment over four years for the new Public Housing Pipeline program with funding for 450 new public homes.
- A new $39 million loan guarantee program to provide financial guarantees for approved projects in the order of $650 million. This will help the community housing sector to get projects off the ground for more than 1,000 affordable homes in the ACT through the Housing Australia Future Fund.
- A major step up in investment in our existing public housing with $183.4 million in additional funding over four years to strengthen public housing repairs and maintenance. In total, this brings the program to a $401.5 million investment over four years and supports a balanced approach across reactive repairs, planned upgrades and bringing vacant properties back into use.
- $15.8 million to progressively insource key components of public housing repairs and maintenance services.
- Indexed funding over 20 years, to operationalise new crisis and transitional housing for vulnerable cohorts facing homelessness in partnership with the Commonwealth.
- Support for Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations to deliver social and affordable housing, with support being provided for applications through the First Nations stream of the Housing Australia Future Fund.
Our commitment to provide safe and affordable homes to the most vulnerable members of our community is reflected in our promise to increase housing supply, choice and availability for all Canberrans at every stage of life.
Quotes attributable to Chief Minister Andrew Barr:
“Stable housing and access to essential services are core economic foundations, they support workforce participation, productivity and a more resilient Canberra.
“This investment represents another significant step forward in our long-term plan to grow housing supply, giving industry the confidence to invest and build, while ensuring more Canberrans can access an affordable place to live.”
Quotes attributable to Treasurer, Chris Steel:
“The Government is delivering the biggest ever investment in expanding the amount of affordable, community and public housing in Canberra.
“In times of economic uncertainty nothing is more important than having stable and secure housing.”
Quotes attributable to Deputy Chief Minister, and Minister for Homes, Homelessness and New Suburbs, Yvette Berry:
“Safe and stable housing is the foundation for better health, stronger communities, and improved life outcomes.
“That’s why the ACT Labor Government have committed to increasing the public housing portfolio to 13,200 properties by 2030 and ensuring vulnerable Canberrans have access to secure, well-maintained homes that provide not just shelter, but dignity and stability.
“By taking action on all fronts by boosting supply and investing in the upkeep of existing homes so they remain safe and fit for purpose.”
