Homes with heart – affordable housing delivered in the ACT

The Australian Capital Territory will benefit from social and affordable housing funding under The Big Issue’s Homes for Homes initiative.

Assistant Minister for Social Services, Housing and Disability Services, Sarah Henderson, today joined Steven Persson, CEO, The Big Issue, to announce that the Havelock Housing Association in the Australian Capital Territory will receive $200,000 under the Homes for Homes initiative.

The funding will go towards the development of Havelock Housing Association’s new ‘Homes with Heart’ program, which will provide long-term accommodation to matched pairs of older women.

Ms Henderson said that the Liberal National Government is committed to assisting the most vulnerable people in our communities and invests more than $6 billion annually on housing support and homelessness services alone.

“It is important that we direct funds to effective programs, and increasingly that means innovative programs. That is why we are investing $6 million in Homes for Homes,” Ms Henderson said.

“It takes a Liberal National Government to invest in innovative funding approaches like Homes for Homes, which utilises the small generosities of investors to support social and affordable housing development.”

“It’s part of our focus on ensuring we have a sustainable approach to welfare, using smart investments to generate outcomes for those most in need,” Ms Henderson said.  

“We can already see that this initiative is delivering on its promise to increase affordable housing. Last week, $300,000 was allocated towards funding housing projects across Victoria, and today, $200,000 will fund the ACT ‘Homes with Heart’ program, which will provide secure housing to older women.”

Under Homes for Homes, home owners voluntarily agree to make a tax deductible donation at the time of sale of 0.1 per cent of the sale price. These funds are then pooled and made available to organisations to deliver social and affordable housing projects.

For more information on the Homes for Homes initiative, please visit www.homesforhomes.com.au.