Social & affordable housing

Councils from across Victoria are impacted by and deeply concerned about the current housing crisis.

They see and deal directly with the fallout from a lack of affordable homes in their communities every day. Provision and funding of social housing is a Commonwealth and state government responsibility, but rough sleeping, lack of affordable housing and reliance on more transient forms of housing such as caravan parks and rooming houses impacts the individual, the community and the broader economy. Many councils have developed housing strategies to address local housing issues.

Current priorities

We work with Homes Victoria and the Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA Vic) to expedite resolution of policy issues and facilitate information sharing between councils. In 2022, we consulted with councils to develop a Victorian Local Government Social and Affordable Housing Position Statement (PDF - 223KB).

Housing has been a recurring theme at recent MAV State Councils, including resolutions on mandatory inclusionary zoning, sustainable funding for social and public housing and short-term rental accommodation. The MAV State Council is the guiding policy forum of the MAV, comprising councillor representatives from all Victorian member councils.

We also support the Victorian Inter Council Affordable Housing Forum and work closely with the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) to engage with Commonwealth policy and funding initiatives.

Submissions and briefs

• MAV submission to the National Housing and Homelessness Issues Paper - Oct 2023 (PDF - 369.8KB)
• MAV submission to the Victorian Legislative Council Legal and Social Issues Committee Inquiry into the Rental and Housing Affordability Crisis in Victoria - Jul 2023 (PDF - 1.1MB)
• MAV submission to the Interim Report of the Independent Review of Social Housing Regulation in Victoria - Feb 2022 (PDF - 225KB)
• MAV submission to the Victorian Environment and Planning Committee Inquiry into the Protections within the Victorian Planning Framework - Feb 2022 (PDF - 232KB)
• MAV submission to the Federal Standing Committee on Tax and Revenue Inquiry into Housing Affordability and Supply in Australia - Sep 2021 (PDF - 653KB)
• MAV submission Re a 10 Year Strategy for Social and Affordable Housing - Apr 2021 (PDF - 291KB)
• MAV submission to the Victorian Legislative and Social Issues Committee Inquiry into Homelessness in Victoria - Jun 2020 (PDF - 995KB)
• MAV submission to Victorian Ministerial Advisory Committee on Planning Mechanisms for Affordable Housing - Oct 2019 (PDF - 334KB)

Resources

• MAV State Council Resolutions on Social and Affordable Housing - May 2023 (PDF - 120KB)
• CHIA Vic / MAV affordable housing agreement resources
• Social and Affordable Housing – Useful Terms and Definitions (PDF - 163KB)
• Social Housing and Funding for Local Services – MAV Issues paper - Jul 2021 (PDF - 2.3MB)
• Victorian Local Government Position Statement on Social and Affordable Housing (PDF - 223KB)

Finance and funding sources

• Housing Australia (Commonwealth) provides concessional finance to community housing organisations.
• National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) provides incentives for investors to build new dwellings and rent them to low-and middle-income households at 80% of market rents for 10 years. As of June 2021, the NRAS was providing support for about 5,400 affordable homes in Victoria, with approximately 2,800 managed by community housing organisations and 1,500 by for-profit providers, and a small number by other charities. This scheme is under review.
• National Housing Accord (PDF - 515KB) announced on 25 October 2022 with the aim of building one million new well-located homes over five years from 2024. Brings together all tiers of government, institutional investors and the construction sector.
• Victorian Social Housing Growth Fund (state) provides funding from the Big Housing Build to community housing providers (funding mostly now committed).