Homes for Homes opens funding to NSW, WA

Homes for Homes has officially launched its fifth round of grant funding, with the applications opening earlier this week (11 April) and closing on 13 May.

Based in Melbourne and founded by the magazine and non-profit, The Big Issue, Homes for Homes is an initiative that provides funding to social and affordable housing projects across Australia as a means to address homelessness.  

To date, the non-profit has provided $1.28 million worth of funding to 13 projects across the ACT, the Northern Territory, Victoria and Queensland. 

As per Homes for Homes, this support has provided housing for 96 people. 

Further, these 13 projects include the ​​“redevelopment of an underutilised dwelling into two long-term social and affordable housing units” for Indigenous Australian tenancies on behalf of ​​Aboriginal Housing Victoria, alongside funding for a Community Housing Canberra group home intended to “enable people with mental illness to transition from living with ageing parents to a more independent model with 24/7 support”.

However, the non-profit has confirmed that this fifth round of funding, due to “support from property donors, PEXA and the Homes for Homes community”, will cover projects based in both Western Australia and NSW for the initiative’s first time.  

Homes for Homes has said that up to $80,000 will be available for projects in each state. 

Homes for Homes chief executive Steven Persson commented that the non-profit is “pleased to continue its expansion across Australia and open up grant funding in new states”.

“We are excited to welcome applications from housing providers and play our part in the creation of social and affordable housing in NSW and WA,” Mr Persson said.  

“Homes for Homes is dedicated to solving homelessness and helping provide safe, secure housing for all, our success comes from strong community support. 

“We thank all those who have registered their properties with Homes for Homes and those who contributed to the making of this new grant round, in particular our strong partnership with PEXA.” 

The CEO added that “any organisation that can create social and affordable housing is encouraged to apply”.

The drive of the non-profit sector supporting social housing reflects criticisms that the state and federal governments aren’t doing enough to support these measures. 

Community Housing Industry Association NSW CEO Mark Degotardi said on behalf of the report published by the inquiry into housing affordability and supply in Australia that the recommendations did not address the current lack of access to social and affordable housing. 

“The biggest takeaway from this report is that the federal government is deeply concerned with the supply and affordability of housing for Australians to own, yet they’ve completely ignored addressing a desperate need for greater supply of social and affordable housing,” Mr Degotardi said.

“Australia needs real and specific policies being delivered by its governments which will deliver more social and affordable housing, not fantasies of all Australians owning their own home.”

[Related: Budget 2022-23 overview: The measures impacting mortgages]