Housing body backs second round of federal social housing scheme

The Housing Industry Association has welcomed a government initiative to deliver 5,000 additional social homes under the Housing Australia Future Fund Facility.

HIA Managing Director Jocelyn Martin said the second funding round acknowledged “the urgent delivery of social housing is the responsibility of the Government.”

The latest announcement builds on approximately 13,000 social and affordable homes supported in the first round earlier this year.

The program aims to deliver 40,000 social and affordable homes over five years through partnerships between federal and state governments.

Martin said the initiative addresses only a fraction of Australia’s housing needs.

“At 40,000 homes, the HAFFF supports a portion of the 1.2 million homes that need to be delivered for housing to be affordable and well-located for all Australians,” she said.

Dwelling construction starts remain about 20 per cent below the 10-year average and will fall short of the 240,000 homes needed annually over the next five years, according to the HIA.

Martin cited regulatory barriers and infrastructure delays as key challenges facing the residential construction sector.

“Red tape, slow approval systems, availability of land and delivery of housing infrastructure add cost and slow down the ability to bring new homes to market,” she said.

The HIA chief suggested governments might better understand these challenges by experiencing the system firsthand as customers.