Anyone may find themselves in a position where they need affordable rental housing during their life. Affordable housing is for anyone in our community who is part of a very low, low or moderate income household.
Our research shows that for every $1 invested in affordable housing, the community benefits by $3 due to worker retention, educational benefits, enhanced human capital, health cost savings, reduced family violence and crime. It is an investment in both essential infrastructure and people.
The City of Melbourne is a national leader in local government responses to affordable housing. We work across the entire housing spectrum and support people who need temporary housing responses and secure long-term housing.
We’re working to:
- Use Council-owned land for affordable, long-term rental housing.
- Leverage the planning system to facilitate affordable housing with developers.
- Advocate for systemic change.
- Support our community’s most vulnerable members, including people sleeping rough.
Affordable housing projects
- We are investigating converting a Council-owned car park site at 44-60 Curzon Street, North Melbourne, into affordable housing. Visit Participate Melbourne External link for further information and how to get involved in the project.
- We have delivered 48 affordable housing units in the Munro development alongside Queen Victoria Market.
- We are delivering 40 affordable housing units at the Boyd development in Southbank.
- We will deliver affordable housing as part of the Southern Precinct at the Queen Victoria Market. 15 per cent of the floor space in one of the proposed buildings will be secured as affordable housing.
Defining Key Worker Housing
Through our Council Plan, the City of Melbourne is committed to facilitating more affordable housing for key workers. We have reaffirmed this in our Affordable Housing Strategy and have now developed a definition of 'key worker housing'.
City of Melbourne conducted research and community engagement in 2023 to help us understand who the key workers are in our city, and how we can support more people on very low to moderate incomes to live in the city.
The City of Melbourne defines key worker housing as: “Affordable rental housing that is appropriate for people who work within the City of Melbourne, who are required to be physically present to perform their work, and whose household earns very low, low or moderate incomes. The housing must be owned, or managed, or allocated and monitored by a Registered Housing Agency or registered charity to the satisfaction of Council."
To learn more, visit Participate External link.
