Budget 2022: Federal Government unveils plans to build one million new homes over five years

NQ families hit hard by the crippling housing crisis are holding out hope relief could be on the way after a plan to build one million new homes over five years was unveiled in the budget.

NQ families hit hard by the crippling housing crisis are holding out hope relief could be on the way after a plan to build one million new homes over five years was unveiled in the Federal Budget.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers outlined the government’s plan to tackle the national housing crisis with one million new homes to be built over five years, starting from 2024.

It will be done in agreement with the federal and state governments, with the Commonwealth forking out $350 million to build an additional 10,000 affordable homes by 2029, with the states and territories expected to match it.

This is on top of Labor’s election promise to build 30,000 new social and affordable housing properties in five years.

Townsville mum of four Jessica Carr said her family had been left homeless after months of struggling to find an affordable rental due to the ongoing housing crisis.

With Townsville reporting record-low rental vacancies, Ms Carr said she desperately wanted to see something in the budget to make affordable housing more accessible.

Townsville mum Jessica Carr, with Talisha Carr, 12, Hayley Schoeck, 5, and Samuel Schoeck, 19 months, have been forced to live in a motel as they search for affordable rentals. Picture: Evan Morgan

After being told to vacate their rental last month, her family spent two weeks sleeping in tents before they secured help from the Red Cross and were able to stay in a motel.

“The rental prices are ridiculous, I couldn’t find anything under $450 a week,” Ms Carr said.

“When they see you’ve got a lot of kids or any pets, it seems like you go straight down the list of applications.

“After months of searching, I finally found an angel with a private house for rent that we’re moving into on Thursday.”

Ms Carr is one of more than 4000 people in Townsville waiting on the social housing list, which has an average wait time of about two years.

The number of people seeking assistance has also doubled this year at Townsville’s Homelessness Hub, with nearly 5000 people making contact since January.

Originally published as Budget 2022: Federal Government unveils plans to build one million new homes over five years