Community Housing Industry Association Victoria is urging the Victorian Government to heed a parliamentary committee’s call for a surge in social housing, as the state grapples with a worsening rental crisis.
The ‘inquiry into the rental and housing affordability crisis in Victoria’ recommends the government build an additional 60,000 social housing dwellings over the next decade.
CHIA Vic’s chief executive Sarah Toohey said there’s no time to waste in building more social housing in Victoria.
“There’s a dire need for more social and affordable housing as a growing number of Victorians live through the horror housing crisis. Right now, more than 146,000 Victorian households are experiencing homelessness, housing stress or living in overcrowded housing,” Ms Toohey said.
“We have long been asking the Victorian Government to build 6,000 new social housing units every year over a decade to meet demand. The inquiry’s recommendation supports our call.
“The State Government’s investments in social housing, including the Big Housing Build, have been life changing for thousands of Victorians – in fact, the housing crisis would be worse without it. But clearly much more social housing needs to be built to end this crisis for good.
“Victoria needs a long-term plan to build more affordable and social housing, and ongoing funding to deliver these homes. Investing in social housing is an investment in the economic productivity, liveability and wellbeing of our community.”
CHIA Vic also backs other report recommendations including that the State Government responds to the 2021 ‘inquiry into homelessness in Victoria’ recommendation about mandatory inclusionary zoning, and sets a consistent and clear definition of affordable housing in legislation.
