The Victorian government has announced that hundreds of new homes will be built for Indigenous people in Victoria.
Part of the government's big build, Housing Minister Harriet Shing said on Friday more than $153 million will be invested to deliver up to 348 new homes in Victoria.
"We're delivering hundreds of homes across the state for First Nations Victorians through our record investment in social and affordable housing across the state," she said.
"By working closely with First Nations housing organisations, we're making sure homes that get built for Aboriginal Victorians are designed and managed in a way that reflects the needs of their communities."
Aboriginal Housing Victoria Board chairperson Daphne Yarram said housing is the "foundation" for better lives: "From health, education and economic opportunity to connection to Country and culture."
The Noongar woman said the homes will provide the foundation for hundreds of Indigenous people across Victoria, "supporting families to thrive, Elders to age in place, and young people to build their chosen futures".
"This is an important and tangible step forward in the implementation of Mana-na woorn-tyeen maar-takoort, and a clear example of what can be achieved when Aboriginal housing providers and community-controlled organisations are resourced and trusted to deliver," she said.
The funding across 93 projects will be built across the state, with more than 230 of the new homes in the regions, including 58 in Greater Shepparton (Yorta Yorta Country), 36 in East Gippsland (Gunaikurnai Country), 29 in Wodonga (Wiradjuri Country), 28 in Greater Geelong and 24 in Ballarat ((Wadawurrung Country).
The homes will be delivered by Aboriginal Housing Victoria (AHV), Aboriginal Community Housing Victoria Limited, Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative, and Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation will be the agencies charged with delivering the homes.
AHV said they will be able to build 191 new homes as a result of their share of the funding, with AHV Chief Executive and Chair of the Victorian Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Forum, Darren Smith, saying the investment is a "much-needed boost to housing supply across Victoria – particularly in regional areas where lack of access to culturally appropriate housing is deeply felt".
"It means more families can stay connected to Country, culture, and community, whilst building the capacity of the Aboriginal housing sector to meet the needs of a growing population," Mr Smith said.
In a statement, AHV said: "The new homes include a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom dwellings in the form of apartments, townhouses, and free-standing houses. Located across both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, sites have been strategically selected to ensure proximity to services, transport, education and infrastructure.
"The variety of housing sizes are designed to meet the diverse needs of the growing Victorian Aboriginal population."
The funding for the program is designed to support the implementation of the Victorian Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Framework – Mana-na woorn-tyeen maar-takoort, Every Aboriginal Person has a Home – which has set out how to improve Indigenous housing outcomes in Victoria in a generation.
"Safe, secure, and sustainable housing is the foundation for better lives and stronger communities," Mr Smith said.
"This is a welcome step forward in the realisation of the vision of Mana-na woorn-tyeen maar-takoort, where every Aboriginal person has a home."
A recent development from this funding, in Springvale, has just been completed, and AHF said residents had begun moving into their new homes in the last week.
The announcement comes after the government recently committed more than $17 million over three years in rental support to extend help for First Nations Victorians struggling to find or keep a private rental.
The Aboriginal Private Rental Assistance Program was co-designed by Homes Victoria and Aboriginal housing organisations to help Aboriginal Victorians overcome barriers to renting and supports them to stay in their homes.
In a statement, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples Natalie Hutchins said the investment "will help ensure more Aboriginal Victorians have access to safe, secure, and culturally appropriate housing – designed and delivered by organisations that know their communities best".
