Future of social homes build uncertain

WORKS are well underway in Myer Street to build 77 new social and affordable homes on land operated by Uniting Vic.Tas – the community services arm of the Uniting Church – with a further 35 new homes for women in need slated for Flora Hill.

The 112 residences in total are being supported by the Federal Government’s Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF), which has a broader goal to deliver 55,000 low-cost homes across Australia.

A reported 28,000 residences, including the above, are already in either planning or construction stages.

However, in his recent budget reply, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said that if elected, his government would “stop the (HAFF)”, with his housing spokesperson Andrew Bragg indicating that a Coalition Government would not honour existing HAFF contracts.

Mr Dutton claimed that the fund “hasn’t built a house yet”, with his alternative approach focusing on reforming home lending rules.

Federal Minister for Housing and Homelessness Clare O’Neil said it is “unthinkable that in the middle of a housing crisis Liberals and Nationals have committed to cutting $19 billion of housing funding.”

“We desperately need more social and affordable housing in our regions, and all the Liberals and Nationals are talking about doing is cutting billions of funding to homes that are already being delivered,” she said.