The Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA) is calling for all parties to make crystal clear how they will deliver safe, secure and affordable housing for Australians who are priced out of the housing market, wondering how they can afford sky rocketing rents, or paying huge energy bills because their home is so poorly insulated.

CHIA CEO Wendy Hayhurst said that “over the last year, rents and house prices have surged ahead of wages, and around one-third of people seeking help from homelessness services can’t get their immediate accommodation needs met, up by 29 per cent from 2016”.

“Even after receiving Commonwealth Rent Assistance, almost half of renters are still in housing stress,” Ms Hayhurst said.

“Recent research shows that underinvestment in social and affordable housing is costing us all tens of millions of dollars per year through the impact on health spending, justice services and employment levels. These costs will only go up, if we fail to act.”

She said CHIA wants to see all parties committing to a national housing strategy that will galvanise other levels of government, the private and not-for-profit sectors to join in:

1. Investing in the construction of 25,000 new social and affordable rental homes per annum.

2. Supporting lower income households to achieve home ownership by supporting a national buildto rent to buy program.

3. Establishing a national climate resilience fund to support retrofitting or renewal of poorly.

Andrew Hannan, CHIA chair, said that the community housing industry was well-placed to take a lead role in working with, and co-investing alongside, governments and the private sector to tackle this big, but solvable national challenge.

“The sector now manages over 100,000 homes, has $18 billion in assets and brings in $1.8 billion every year in revenue,” he said.

“In our Federal election platform, CHIA proposes a range of cost-effective ways that could make a major dent in Australia’s affordable housing challenge. We’re just hoping to see all parties take notice and push the start building button ASAP.”

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