Affordable and public housing in the ACT is to be improved and increased to provide essential accommodation for low income Canberrans at risk of homelessness.
To be announced by Treasurer Andrew Barr, the ACT’s 2021-22 Budget is to provide an additional $80 million for public housing maintenance over the next three years.
“This funding will ensure that public housing tenants live in safe and secure houses that suit their individual needs,” Mr Barr said.
“Every Canberran, no matter their circumstances, should have access to safe and affordable housing that suits their needs,” he said.
Mr Barr said additional funding had also been allocated to support the delivery of 400 additional public housing dwellings and renew another 1,000 properties.
He said $720,000 over four years is to be allocated to enabling expressions of interest to build and operate long-term rental accommodation through the Build-to-Rent scheme on nominated land release sites in Turner and Lawson.
He said $640,000 is to be allocated for stage 1 of the Build to Rent model on the existing Common Ground site in Gungahlin that focused on affordable and secure rental housing.
“This package improves social housing and housing affordability for Canberrans as part of the ACT Housing Strategy, with a broad range of measures, to address the unique and complex challenges that exist in the housing market,” Mr Barr said.
