PowerHousing Australia and CHIA’s latest report, developed by Swinburne University, highlights the societal and economic benefits of the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF), a $10 billion investment vehicle supporting the construction of 30,000 new social and affordable dwellings across Australia. The HAFF provides $500 million annually for 25 years to drive much-needed housing supply without adding to public sector budget expenditure.

Key findings:

• The HAFF is projected to generate $3.2 billion in societal benefits over 25 years, equating to $4,263 per dwelling annually. These benefits include avoided public sector costs in health, justice, and homelessness services, as well as broader economic and social advantages.
• Tenant-specific benefits, such as cost-of-living relief from lower rents and improved energy efficiency, total $7.15 billion, or $9,539 per dwelling annually.
• Increasing social housing allocations for individuals experiencing homelessness to 50% would boost societal benefits by 15%, reaching $4,884 per dwelling annually.
• Doubling or quadrupling the HAFF could scale up to 120,000 dwellings, significantly reducing the affordable housing shortfall and driving long-term affordability improvements in Australia’s housing market.

Why it matters

With Australia facing a 640,000 shortfall in social and affordable housing, the HAFF is a critical step in addressing housing insecurity. Expanding the HAFF would not only provide long-term housing solutions but also foster a more resilient and sustainable non-market housing sector, ultimately benefiting all Australians.

For more information, access the full report Maximising Investment in Social and Affordable Housing in Australia

​