Community housing providers bidding to develop more than 26,000 new affordable and social rental homes in the first round of tenders – nearly two-thirds of the 40,000 units the federal government is planning over five years – say the $10 billion program should be doubled to speed up the rollout of housing.

PowerHousing Australia, which represents the 37 largest community housing providers, said they collectively applied to develop 26,120 homes – up from an earlier estimate of 22,600 – in the tender round that closed in March and argued for the funding to be increased.