Developing the National Housing and Homelessness Plan

About the National Housing and Homelessness Plan

To help more Australians access safe and affordable housing, the Australian Government is developing a National Housing and Homelessness Plan (the Plan) in collaboration with state and territory governments. The Plan will be a 10-year strategy. It will set out a shared vision to inform future housing and homelessness policy in Australia.

The Plan will set out the key short, medium and longer term reforms needed to address housing challenges.

Why is it important?

The Australian Government understands access to secure and affordable housing has significant social, economic and personal benefits.
The development of the Plan recognises long-standing calls from states and territories, as well as other key stakeholders, for a national plan to help more Australians access safe and affordable housing.
The Plan will provide a better understanding of the current state of housing and homelessness in Australia and the drivers of homelessness and housing insecurity throughout urban, regional, rural and remote Australia.
Most importantly, the Plan will set out strategies for how all levels of government can work together and with the private and community sector to better support people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity.
The Plan is a key part of the Government’s ambitious reform agenda which also includes: 

  • a 15% increase to the maximum rates of Commonwealth Rent Assistance to assist low-income renters
  • the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund, the single biggest investment in social and affordable housing by a Federal Government in more than a decade, which will support the delivery of 30,000 social and affordable homes in its first 5 years
  • a National Housing Accord (Accord), setting out a shared ambition to build one million new, well-located homes over 5 years from 2024
  • an additional $350 million over 5 years from 2024-25 to support funding of 10,000 affordable homes under the Accord
  • providing tax incentives to support build-to-rent developments to reduce barriers to new supply in the private rental market
  • increasing the Housing Australia's (previously National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation) liability cap by an additional $2 billion. This will allow Housing Australia to provide more loans to community housing providers for social and affordable housing, supporting around an additional 7,000 dwellings
  • widening the remit of the National Housing Infrastructure Facility, making up to $575 million available to invest immediately in social and affordable rental homes
  • expanding eligibility for the Home Guarantee Scheme to help more people buy a home sooner
  • offering states and territories an additional $67.5 million to address homelessness as part of a one year extension to the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement
  • a $2 billion Social Housing Accelerator payment to State and Territory Governments, which will create thousands of homes for Australians on social housing waiting lists
  • committing to A Better Deal for Renters to harmonise and strengthen renters’ rights across Australia.

Who we are working with

The Plan is being developed in collaboration with key stakeholders including state and territory governments, local government, not-for-profit and civil society organisations, industry bodies, superannuation funds and other experts in housing, finance and urban development.

It has involved broad public consultation, which ran from 7 August 2023 to 30 November 2023, including with people with lived experience. A Consultation Summary Report is now available. The Plan will also be informed by advice provided by the newly established National Housing Supply and Affordability Council.

We have heard about the profound and complex challenges of housing and homelessness experienced by individuals across the country, as well as the challenges faced by organisations providing services. We wish to express our thanks to every person and organisation who has engaged with the Plan’s consultation process, including those who provided a submission, attended a consultation event, and shared their experiences and insights to support the development of this Plan.

If you would like to learn more about the consultation process or read the Consultation Summary Report, please visit engage.dss.gov.au/developing-the-national-housing-and-homelessness-plan

If you require support

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 000.

If you or someone you know needs help or support at any time, we encourage you to contact one of the services listed on our Help and Support page.

Contact

National Housing and Homelessness Plan Team
Email: HousingandHomelessnessPlan@dss.gov.au

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