Supporting the Call to Grow Social Housing in Victoria

Currently, more than 30,000 people in Victoria are without a home, and our state experiences the highest rates of housing stress in Australia. The Victorian Housing Peaks Alliance has noted that the collapse in private housing affordability, compounded by growing economic inequality, demands a far stronger commitment from government to grow the supply of social housing. 

The current proportion of social housing in Victoria sits at only 3.1%, significantly below the national average of 4.5%. This shortfall disproportionately affects First Nations peoples, women and children escaping family violence, people exiting the justice system, LGBTIQA+ communities, and people with complex health needs. A recent report from SGS Economics and Planning found that Victoria must build 7,990 new social homes each year for the next 10 years just to meet the national average and put us on a pathway to meet the growing demand for housing.  

Without access to secure housing, health disparities are worsened, and cycles of disadvantage are reinforced. People experiencing homelessness or housing stress face greater risk of chronic illness, mental ill-health, and substance use challenges. Growing the supply of social housing is essential to end homelessness, support housing justice for First Nations peoples, provide safe pathways out of family violence, and reduce housing stress across the community. 

A Call for Action 

Your Community Health joins VCOSS and the Victorian Housing Peaks Alliance in calling for the Victorian Government to: 

• Build 7,990 new social housing dwellings every year for the next 10 years, as a step toward the 377,000 new homes required by 2051. Meeting this target is essential to address growing demand and ensure all Victorians can access housing that supports their health and wellbeing. 

• Develop a long-term social housing strategy that includes sustained government investment, funding grants, and planning mechanisms requiring developers to contribute to social housing growth. 

• Address the specific housing needs of Aboriginal communities, in line with the Victorian Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Framework. 

• Integrate housing growth with support services, improving access to culturally safe healthcare, education, and employment to promote long-term wellbeing and sustain tenancies.  

Expanding social housing, alongside inclusive, culturally safe support services, is critical to ensuring all Victorians can access the housing they need to thrive. We urge the Victorian Government to adopt the recommendations of VCOSS and the Victorian Housing Peaks Alliance to build a healthier, more equitable Victoria for everyone. 

Find more information here on the Growing Social Housing initiative and to read the SCG report.