The federal government’s first tender for funds from the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund drew bids from community housing providers, fund managers and state and territory governments, outstripping the nominal 8000-home quota and prompting calls for a larger allocation of funds.

Bids from the 37 largest community housing providers alone totalled 22,600 homes in projects worth $13.8 billion – more than half of the 40,000 affordable and social homes the combined HAFF and National Housing Accord Facility programs aim to secure over five years, industry group PowerHousing Australia said.