Community Housing Industry Association Victoria (CHIA Vic) said the Allan Government’s Budget provides some small wins for housing, but much more action is required to ease the state’s crushing crisis.
The Allan Government has delivered a standalone tax exemption for land used to provide social housing, and $11.5 million for the Victorian Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Framework.
The Budget also confirms that $299 million of the $1 billion Regional Housing Fund will be allocated to community housing organisations.
CHIA Vic chief executive Sarah Toohey said: “This Budget builds upon the work the Victorian Government has already been doing to improve the housing crisis.
“Securing a land tax exemption for social housing locks in the right system settings to grow the community housing sector and deliver more homes but much more funding for social and affordable housing will be required to build our state out of the crisis.
“We’re also encouraged to see the Government continuing to invest in Mana-na woorn-tyeen maar-tarkoort – the Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Framework. We hope to see the Government fully fund this important initiative.
“With more than 146,000 Victorian households struggling to afford or secure appropriate housing, the Government must continue to build on its Budget strategies and the progress and legacy it’s made through the Big Housing Build.
“The solution to the housing crisis is unequivocal: Victoria needs much more social housing – homes that are designed to be affordable always.
“We’ve seen through the first round of the Commonwealth’s Housing Australia Future Fund that Victoria’s community housing sector is raring to go with more projects than will likely be funded. We need to see the State Government step up with funding to ensure these projects are built.
“There are even more low-cost high-return initiatives the Government should be adopting to ease the housing crisis, such as unlocking more government land for community housing providers to build on.”
