The Government plans to deliver more than 21,000 new social and affordable homes across the country through Round 3 of the HAFF, which is the largest round yet.

Round 3 is now open and community housing providers, along with industry partners, First Nations organisations and all levels of government are invited to deliver new social and affordable housing stock by June 2029.

At the conclusion of this round, the HAFF will have struck agreements to deliver 40,000 new social and affordable homes, ensuring the Government is on track to meet its commitment to deliver 55,000 social and affordable homes by mid-2029.

Mr Neumann said community housing providers played a critical role in delivering projects under the HAFF.
“We want to tackle the shortfall of social and affordable homes, and there will be additional funding available in Round 3 of the HAFF through capital grants and concessional loans,” Mr Neumann said.

“I strongly encourage housing providers operating in Ipswich and the Somerset Region to consider applying for funding through this opportunity so we can help meet the housing needs of our fast-growing region.”

Round 3 will deliver more homes, more quickly, supported by a simpler, demand-driven application process to enable faster decisions.

Four dedicated streams will ensure the HAFF is adding to housing supply across the board and supporting key workers and vulnerable Australians with housing.

• The Partnerships at Scale stream will encourage new partnerships with industry led by community housing providers to enable efficient delivery at scale

• The Housing diversity stream will deliver more homes for cohorts including ADF/veterans’ providers, local government and across regional, rural and remote Australia

• The State and Territory stream will offer expanded co-investment opportunities for state and territory governments to unlock and accelerate delivery

• The First Nations stream will improve First Nations housing outcomes by providing $600 million in dedicated funding and additional concessional loans to support projects delivered by, or in genuine partnership with, First Nations organisations. Housing Australia will establish a new First Nations concierge service to help drive improved housing outcomes for First Nations communities

Mr Neumann said the Government was delivering additional social and affordable homes to ensure that people who needed it had a safe place to call home.

“We said we’d build more houses and with the largest Housing Australia Future Fund round yet, that’s exactly what we’re doing, unlocking tens of thousands of homes and making a difference in people’s lives.

“This round will see thousands of homes delivered at scale – for frontline workers priced out of their community, veterans, women and children fleeing domestic violence and First Nations Australians – all while boosting supply across the country.

“On top of this, we’re providing more help for first homebuyers with our expanded five per cent deposit scheme, along with supply measures, including tax cuts for Build to Rent developments, Help to Buy and the $3-billion New Homes Bonus.

“There’s more to do, but under Labor, we’re making solid progress on building more homes, getting more Australians into home ownership and getting renters a better deal.”

More information on the HAFF is available on the Housing Australia website at: https://www.housingaustralia.gov.au