Budget a step in the right direction for housing, but more needs to be done

Believe Housing Australia stands ready to help deliver on the Federal Budget commitments to increase housing supply.

Stacey Northover, Executive General Manager of Believe Housing Australia, said that while there were many positives in last night’s budget, it doesn’t go far enough to address the housing crisis.

“There has been a decline in social housing stock for the last three decades.  Measures in the budget will help us to begin to turn this around, but it will be a long road,” she said.

“The $1.9 billion in concessional loans to Community Housing Providers (CHPs) to support the delivery of new social and affordable homes under the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) and the National Housing Accord, along with other support for CHPs, is welcome news.

“Like many CHPs, Believe Housing Australia has many shovel-ready projects awaiting the release of the HAFF.”

Other positive measures in the budget include those designed to improve supply of housing to at-risk populations.

“The $1 billion increase in funding to better support crisis and transitional accommodation to women and children fleeing family and domestic violence, and for youth, is much needed and will help CHPs to deliver more housing for these groups,” said Stacey.

“The community need for housing is huge.  The budget doesn’t go close to solving the problem, but the measures within it are a positive step in the right direction.

“We will continue to work with governments of all levels to increase housing stock and ease the pressure on Australians struggling to afford to put a roof over their heads.”