THREE projects funded through more than $90.4 million from the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC) are on track to deliver more than 200 social and affordable homes in metropolitan Melbourne.
The three projects are being delivered in collaboration between the NHFIC, Victorian community housing provider HousingFirst, City of Port Phillip (CoPP) and the Victorian State Government.
“Working together in partnerships like this to build more social and affordable homes are what we’re trying to achieve through our Housing Australia Future Fund which will help more vulnerable Victorians,” said Julie Collins, federal minister for housing.
HousingFirst was provided with $18 million in grants and loans for infrastructure works, through the National Housing Infrastructure Facility (NHIF), to fast-track its program to deliver 316 social and affordable dwellings.
“Addressing housing needs is a shared responsibility of all levels of government. I’m proud to be joined here today in Balaclava by HousingFirst, the City of Port Phillip and our Commonwealth colleagues to deliver this important project,” said Colin Brooks, state minister for housing.
The dwellings span four project sites in Brighton East, St Kilda, and Balaclava, will include newly built apartments and will deliver housing four those on the Victoria Housing Register.
In Brighton East housing includes the redevelopment of 69 aged-care units into 152 self-contained apartments for people over 55.
In St Kilda 36 self-contained apartments are being delivered for women over 55, through the redevelopment of a rooming house.
In Balaclava accommodation includes one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments for families on the register, as well as some for Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA).
As well as another Balaclava property which is expected to deliver up to 82 apartments.
“If it takes a village to raise a family, then it takes Commonwealth, State and Local government to truly raise the thousands of community homes Australia will need over coming decades. These 316 homes are positive proof of all levels of government working together in conjunction with a community housing provider for the common good,” said Haleh Homaei, CEO at HousingFirst.
The first three projects cost $90.4 million.
“We are pleased to support HousingFirst with concessional finance and grant funding through the National Housing Infrastructure Facility, to help unlock new housing supply,” said Nathan Dal Bon, CEO at NHFIC.
This latest boost for social and affordable housing comes as 230 organisations called for action from the federal government to address the lack of much needed funding for homelessness services, as a recent report revealed more than 640,000 Australians are currently under house stress or facing homelessness, with this figure set to reach nearly one million by 2041.
“NHFIC will continue to work collaboratively with states and territories to support more projects, delivering social and affordable housing for vulnerable individuals and families.”
