Minister Barr: Delivering more affordable and public housing
- Written by ACT Government
Released 23/06/2024 - Joint media release
The Government is continuing to deliver more housing in the Territory, making significant investments in this year’s Budget to build more homes for Canberrans who need them most.
This year’s Budget includes:
- Expanding the Affordable Housing Project Fund to $80 million to grow the number of affordable rental properties
- $108 million in additional funding for new public housing, and to improve existing public housing, taking the Housing ACT Capital Works Program to over $530 million over four years
- A taskforce to improve repairs and maintenance of public housing and oversee a pilot for insourcing maintenance of two large multi‑unit properties
These initiatives will help ensure we have the right mix of housing options to suit a range of household incomes and meet the housing needs of our growing city, which is on track to reach 500,000 people by 2027.
The Government established the Affordable Housing Project Fund last year and so far has funded six projects delivering 280 affordable rentals. This Budget includes an additional $20 million for the Fund, taking it to $80 million.
The Government has also today released the ACT Housing Strategy 5-Year Snapshot.
The funding in this year’s Budget will support the delivery the Government’s commitment to provide 600 additional affordable rentals and 400 additional public housing dwellings, as outlined in the Parliamentary and Governing Agreement.
Further information about how the Government is increasing housing choice, access and affordability is available online.
Quotes attributable to ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr:
“Increased housing construction and improved affordability continue to be a priority for the Government.
“Today’s announcement follows the commitment earlier this week to release land to support the construction of more than 21,000 new homes.
“We are committed to implementing measures that increase housing supply, access and choice to meet the needs of our growing city.
“The expansion of the Affordable Housing Project Fund reinforces our commitment to increase the supply of affordable rentals in Canberra, including by supporting the development of more Build-to-Rent projects.
“Housing affordability is a national issue requiring broad reform. The ACT Government will continue to work collaboratively with the Commonwealth Government to deliver our commitments under the National Housing Accord.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Housing and Suburban Development Yvette Berry:
“Every Canberran should have the same equal chance of a safe and secure home.
“That’s why the ACT Government is continuing to deliver housing for those Canberrans who need it through programs like the Affordable Housing Project Fund, Growing and Renewing Public Housing program and the Social Housing Accelerator funding from the Commonwealth Government.
“In line with the ACT Government’s commitment that if a job can be done by a public servant, it should be, our new insourcing taskforce will consider how government can better deliver repairs and maintenance services for the over 20,000 Canberrans who call public housing home.
“Importantly, the taskforce will work hand-in-hand with tenants, unions and community organisations to ensure their voices are heard throughout this process.”
- Statement ends -
Andrew Barr, MLA | Yvette Berry, MLA | Media Releases
