The Big Housing Build will change thousands of lives. Social housing provides security of tenure and rent set at a level that allows people to rebuild their lives. It provides a vital safety net, and offers people the dignity, stability and opportunities they need to fully participate in their community and improve their lives.
New social and affordable housing will significantly improve the quality of the local area. It will transform it into a well-integrated neighbourhood with new road and pedestrian connections, welcoming public spaces and modern new homes.
This investment will provide more people with a place to call home while strengthening our community and economy in the process.
New social housing benefits residents
We design and build new social housing that delivers:
- more homes – built in a range of sizes that complement the local area
- better quality homes – high quality homes that are indistinguishable from private homes
- more accessible homes – that meet the accessibility and mobility needs of residents
- better social outcomes – private housing is introduced into social housing estates to create greater social diversity
- more public and open spaces – homes are built to have better, safer and connected access to streets, paths, and open spaces.
The need for more social housing
Women and children escaping family violence, people experiencing homelessness and mental health challenges or people with disabilities - all can have difficulty finding a place to call home. A strong social housing system is essential to a fair and inclusive Victoria.
Social housing is an essential part of every housing system in the world. Social housing ensures that people on low incomes, with barriers to getting private rental or owning their own property, still have a place to call home.
The Big Housing Build will increase the supply of available social housing by more than 10% over the life of the program. Building more of this essential infrastructure now, when the building industry has been impacted by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, is an excellent way to help create jobs, and build a lasting legacy for the state that will help thousands of people.
As part of the reforms that accompany the Big Housing Build, we are developing a ten year ‘Social and Affordable Housing Strategy’, in partnership with the community housing sector. This strategy will set a shared long-term vision and objectives to continue to grow the social housing system alongside the state’s population.