New social homes in Far North Coast NSW for people in need

NSW-based community housing provider (CHP), North Coast Community Housing (NCCH), received $2 million in grant funding from NHFIC and a $1 million grant from DCJ NSW, under the Community Housing Innovation Fund (CHIF), to offer 5 more homes to people in need of social housing in Mullumbimby NSW.

NCCH provide long-term social, affordable and innovative housing solutions to those in need across the Northern Rivers region of NSW. The new homes are part of a 25-unit development with a mix of private, social and affordable housing. There is currently a 10-year wait list for social housing in the area.

Minister for Housing Julie Collins said, she was pleased the Government’s decision to widen the NHIF was already helping communities like Mullumbimby.

“When I visited Mullumbimby earlier this year, I saw first-hand why new housing was needed, particularly after the difficult events of the last year,” Minister Collins said.

“It’s great to be able to announce this crucial funding. The Government will continue working with the new NSW Government to deliver new homes right across the state.”

Assistant Minister for Social Services Justine Elliot said, “I am proud to be delivering this important social and affordable housing in Mullumbimby. Our region desperately needs more housing like this.”

NSW Minister for Housing Rose Jackson said, “This funding will provide Mullumbimby locals with a brighter future by supporting individuals, couples or families with an affordable place to call home. Delivering more safe and secure homes in our regions is a top priority for the NSW Government and this project will make a huge difference to the community.”

NHFIC CEO Nathan Dal Bon said, “Mullumbimby has an acute shortage of social and affordable housing and new supply is limited. It is also a flood-affected region so more social housing will provide timely relief to those within the community.”

“The Government’s widening of the NHIF to include social and affordable housing has enabled us to partner with the NSW Government to deliver this financial assistance to North Coast Community Housing, to provide much needed accommodation.”

In November 2022, the Federal Government announced the widening of the National Housing Infrastructure Facility (NHIF), making up to $575 million available to invest in new social and affordable housing projects in addition to financing housing-enabling infrastructure. Under the NHIF social and affordable housing finance facility (NHIF SAH), NHFIC will be able to provide concessional loans and grants to eligible proponents to support the provision of new social and affordable housing.

About NHFIC - NHFIC’s mission is to improve housing outcomes for Australians. Established in 2018, NHFIC is a corporate Commonwealth entity that provides long-term and low-cost finance and capability building assistance to registered community housing providers (CHPs) to support the provision of more social and affordable housing. NHFIC lends, invests and provides grants to help finance the critical infrastructure needed to unlock and accelerate new housing supply. NHFIC supports home buyers by administering Government schemes that help them purchase their home sooner, and undertakes independent research into housing supply, demand and affordability in Australia. For more information and the latest data on our achievements, visit nhfic.gov.au  

Housing Legislative Package - the Federal Government has introduced legislation to transition NHFIC into Housing Australia, with expanded responsibilities to support delivery of their Housing Policy agenda. The legislation includes renaming NHFIC as Housing Australia with primary responsibility for delivering 40,000 new social and affordable homes over 5 years from 2024. This comprises 30,000 homes to be delivered with funding contributions from the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) (20,000 social, 10,000 affordable) and 10,000 affordable homes under the National Housing Accord. These additional responsibilities are subject to the passage of the legislation. NHFIC will continue to deliver the Home Guarantee Scheme (HGS), the Affordable Housing Bond Aggregator (AHBA) and the National Housing Infrastructure Facility (NHIF, which was recently expanded as part of the Federal Government’s 2022 housing election commitments).