Housing Australia Future Fund: Community housing provider excited by $10b policy
A new federal government policy has been described as a “big step forward” to addressing homelessness — but it’s unclear how many additional homes it will see built in Tasmania.
Tasmania
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The head of a leading community housing provider says the new Housing Australia Future Fund will help tackle Tasmania’s homelessness crisis – but there is uncertainty around how many new homes will be built in the state under the $10b initiative.
Centacare Evolve Housing CEO Ben Wilson welcomed the Albanese government’s move to legislate the new fund, which will use its investment returns to finance the construction of an estimated 30,000 social and affordable homes in its first five years of operation.
Of these homes, 4000 will be reserved for women and children impacted by family and domestic violence, as well as older women at risk of homelessness.
“Not only does the fund promise to alleviate the shortage of housing supply and affordability, this initiative will foster greater co-operation between state and federal governments, the construction industry and community housing providers in order to tackle the issues of housing and homelessness,” Mr Wilson said.
Federal Housing Minister and Franklin MP Julie Collins introduced legislation to establish the fund on Thursday, honouring a key Labor election commitment.
“We know too many Australians can’t find anywhere affordable to live,” Ms Collins said. “We know too many Australians are facing high rents and wondering how they will make ends meet.”
“The introduction of this legislation is a big step forward to start addressing these issues over the long term.
“The fund will also be a shot in the arm for our construction industry, keeping tradies on the tools.”
Tasmanian Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said that while any additional investment into affordable housing was welcome “how many new homes will be built here [in Tasmania] through this commitment is unclear”.
“This announcement doesn’t invest enough in social housing, but it also fails to deal with an escalating rental crisis facing both Tasmania and Australia right now,” she said.
“Tens of thousands of Tasmanians are renters, and rents continue to skyrocket. That means more people in hardship and missing out on social and economic opportunities, and more at risk of homelessness.
“Both the federal and state governments need to prioritise the crisis facing renters. That means increasing rights and protections for tenants, stopping landlords from continually jacking up rent prices and reining in short-stay accommodation.”
Returns from the Housing Australia Future Fund will also help deliver $200m for the repair, maintenance and improvement of housing in remote indigenous communities, $100m for crisis and transitional housing for women and children impacted by family violence, and $30m for housing and specialist services for veterans.
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