Housing Australia has given the green light to an initial list of 185 projects under the government’s Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) and National Housing Accord Facility (NHAF), with $9.2 billion committed to provide more than 13 700 new social and affordable housing units across the country.
In a statement this week, Housing Australia said the investment marked a major milestone, contributing more than a third to the program’s ambitious five-year target of 40,000 homes.
The chosen projects will now move into contract negotiations, with Housing Australia expected to immediately notify applicants of the results of the program’s first round of funding.
Notable inclusions include more than 4,200 social and affordable housing units, 1,300 of which are specifically for women and children fleeing domestic violence and older women facing homelessness. Approximately 700 of these units are expected to be completed this fiscal year to provide immediate housing solutions to those in urgent need.
Housing Australia President Carol Austin said: “Housing Australia would like to recognize the strong response to the first round of funding and the significant efforts of the organizations that applied. As a result, this round of funding has the potential to deliver more than 13,700 social and affordable homes across the country, helping more Australians access affordable, safe and secure housing.
“The Housing Australia team is committed to working with applicants to advance preferred projects while working with the community housing sector, industry and government to shape future funding rounds and deliver more homes in within the framework of HAFF and NHAF.
Also commenting on the most significant HAFF news to date, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “I grew up in social housing – I know how important a roof is and the opportunities it creates.”
“The first round of funding from our Housing Australia Future Fund will create thousands of social and affordable homes across Australia for those who need them most. »
Liberal senator and shadow junior minister for home ownership Andrew Bragg has previously described HAFF as a “failed procurement policy”. This week’s Labor HAFF announcement makes it clear that housing is emerging as a central issue in the looming election.
HAFF has also recently faced some controversy as the Coalition works to change the law governing the initiative to exclude Cbus from participation, due to its links to the Construction Employees’ Union, forests and maritime transport.
