Key housing affordability advocates have welcomed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s commitment to expand the National Housing Infrastructure Facility to social and affordable housing.

Mr Albanese made the commitment in his closing address to the Jobs and Skills Summit in Canberra this afternoon. The policy makes it possible for $575 million dollars in the national housing infrastructure facility to invest in affordable housing by attracting financing from super funds and other sources of private capital. The Prime Minister’s commitment is an important recognition of the critical role social and affordable housing must play if Australia is to address core economic challenges such as productivity and labour mobility, according to the Community Housing Industry Association, National Shelter, Homelessness Australia and Everybody’s Home.

Wendy Hayhurst, CEO of Community Housing Industry Association, said social and affordable housing was critical infrastructure. “Our existing housing policies are a handbrake on economic growth because they fail to provide the rental housing needed for our workforce. This initiative is a great start at attracting super funds into social and affordable housing and we are committed to working with the Government to build upon it.”

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