Affordable housing is defined by the state government as housing, including social housing, that is appropriate for the housing needs of very low to moderate income households.

Social housing is short and long-term rental housing that is owned and run by the government (public housing) or not-for-profit agencies, such as community housing providers.

The increasing gap in housing affordability and the shortfall of social housing particularly impacts people in our community in the lowest income brackets.

Purchase prices and rents have become increasingly unaffordable in recent years due to a combination of several issues including income and other tax policies, low interest rates and lack of housing supply. Many of these issues are outside the control of local councils.

Councils are limited in the ways we can require new housing to be affordable. Council has supported the increased provision of affordable and social housing in Yarra Ranges by:

Endorsing Guiding Principles for Housing and Homelessness in 2020, which establish how Council will work towards improving housing outcomes for the community, including in partnership with other levels of government, housing and private sectors and the community.

Investigating delivering social housing at Anderson Street, Lilydale including facilitating partnerships with registered housing agencies in 2019.

Participating in the Eastern Affordable Housing Alliance to support cross-council advocacy to State Government.

Supporting the Yarra Ranges Housing Action Group in its mission to raise the profile of housing and affordability issues in Yarra Ranges.

Providing a long-term lease to Jim Fuller House, a rooming house providing quality accommodation for single men and women.

Improving housing diversity through changes to the Planning Scheme.

Engaging with developers of large-scale housing proposals such as the Lilydale Quarry redevelopment about affordable housing inclusions.

Preparing a Discussion Framework to respond to recent changes to the Planning and Environment Act 1987 around affordable housing.

The Discussion Paper proposes several additional actions Council can take, including:

Continue to advocate to state government about the need for more affordable and social housing.

Investigate incentives/concessions to facilitate a voluntary affordable and social housing agreement.

How Council can work with developers to secure more affordable housing as part of new developments.

Want to know more? Read the full discussion paper

• Housing Strategy Discussion Paper (Word version)
• Housing Strategy Discussion Paper (PDF version)