Social housing boost

Rob Mitchell said Victorians will “get on with the job” of delivering more social housing. (Unsplash)

Victoria will receive $496 million in funding within the next two weeks to deliver new social housing.

In an announcement on June 21, the federal government said the funding is part of the $2 billion Social Housing Fund Accelerator payment to be provided to states and territories.

McEwen MP Rob Mitchell said Victorians will “get on with the job” of delivering more social housing.

“At every opportunity, the [federal] government has added to our already ambitious housing agenda,” Mr Mitchell said.

“This significant new funding will help build more of the rental homes that we know Victoria needs.”

Mr Mitchell addressed the Senate blocking the proposed Housing Australia Future Fund and said the government could do more if the fund was not blocked.

“We could do even more if the Senate stopped blocking our $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund,” he said.

“[It is] the single biggest investment in social and affordable rental housing by a federal government in more than a decade.”

States and territories will have flexibility in how it boosts its social housing, which may include; new builds, expanding existing programs and renovating or refurbishing existing housing.

All the funding will be committed by states and territories within two years ending June 30, 2025.