The Victorian Government's announcement of 7,000 new social homes has been welcomed by the state's Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Forum, which says it is a positive step in addressing housing needs across Victoria.
Ahead of next month's state budget, the Allan government announced an $860 million expansion of the Social Housing Growth Fund, with 10 per cent of the new homes to be allocated to Aboriginal community housing providers.
"Every Victorian deserves a place to call home and Labor is delivering more of them right across Victoria," Treasurer Jaclyn Symes said. "This will deliver even more social homes sooner, giving people in need a secure foundation."
The Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Forum (AHHF) welcomed the announcement, with chair Darren Smith saying any investment is welcome.
Mr Smith, who is also chief executive of Aboriginal Housing Victoria, said the state was in a housing crisis, with people feeling the impacts daily, and described the government's response as potentially "generationally defining".
"We've seen what sustained investment can achieve, for Aboriginal communities and across the broader housing system," he argued. "We look forward to delivering these critical homes where they are needed most in partnership with the Government."
Data from last year showed 14,031 Aboriginal Victorians accessed homelessness services in the previous 12 months, an increase of almost 10 per cent.
The AHHF said homelessness among Aboriginal Victorians has increased at four times the rate of the broader state population over the past year.
Almost 1,000 Aboriginal children under the age of 10 who presented to Specialist Homelessness Services were already experiencing homelessness, while 80 per cent remained homeless even after receiving support.
Aboriginal Victorians represent close to 14 per cent of those accessing homelessness services.
In 2024, former Yoorrook Justice Commissioner Kevin Bell warned Australia is facing a housing crisis so severe it risks becoming a national catastrophe without urgent, coordinated action.
"Australian housing, one way or the other, is located on land taken from First People at colonisation, in what was a massive and system breach of their human rights," he noted.
The government's announcement is expected to deliver 70 additional social homes each year for Aboriginal Victorians on the housing waitlist. While welcomed, it falls short of the AHHF's Social Housing Growth Strategy, which identified at least 300 new homes are needed annually to meet demand.
"70 homes a year means 70 more Aboriginal people and families with a secure place to call home," Mr Smith said. "But it will not curb the rising tide of homelessness we see across Victoria amongst Aboriginal communities."
With the budget to be handed down next month, he said there was an opportunity for further targeted investment.
"We know what works. Investment in Aboriginal community-controlled housing delivers better outcomes —culturally, socially and economically. The task now is to scale that investment to meet demand," Mr Smith said.
"We welcome this commitment, and we're ready to partner with Government to go further and close the gap together."
