NHFIC Social Bond Report 2022-23 released

The 2022-23 report includes information on the outputs and impacts of social and affordable housing projects financed by NHFIC social and sustainability bonds, Australia’s first industry-led Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting standard, and an update on the community housing sector in Australia.

Highlights for 2022-23 include:

• $403.9 million of new loans to Community Housing Providers (CHPs) approved, supporting the delivery of 1,463 social and affordable homes
• Providing CHPs with an estimated $82.4 million in interest savings as well as other indirect costs recycled into the sector.

Our latest report presents case studies and tenant profiles from six CHPs supported by NHFIC including BaptistCare, Bridge Housing, Foundation Housing, Housing Choices Tasmania, Pacific Link Housing, and SGCH, demonstrating to our investors the invaluable impact their investments have on the lives of Australians, including vulnerable and at-risk women and First Nations people.

The report also provides an update on the ESG reporting standard launched in March 2023 by the Hon Julie Collins MP. The standard provides the community housing sector with a consistent and industry-specific framework for reporting on 41 environmental, social and governance criteria. To date, 10 CHPs have adopted the standard with more expected in the coming 12 months. NHFIC is proud to have supported the ESG reporting standard and to partner with the Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA) as an advocate for enhancing reporting on ESG within the sector.

Speaking about the Social Bond Report, NHFIC CEO Nathan Dal Bon said “given the challenges facing the housing market in Australia, this report provides a valuable opportunity to demonstrate the social and sustainable impact of institutional investment in NHFIC’s bonds, and the critical role this investment plays in supporting the continued growth of social and affordable housing as an asset class.

“NHFIC is committed to working with institutional investors, the property industry, CHPs and all tiers of government to support the new and expanded Federal Government housing programs, including the Housing Australia Future Fund and National Housing Accord, and enhanced National Housing Infrastructure Facility, to increase housing supply and improve access to affordable housing.

“We look forward to issuing new NHFIC bonds in the 2023-24 financial year and continuing to implement the Government’s housing policies so that more people throughout Australia have a place to call home.”

Read the Social Bond Report 2022-23 here.

About NHFIC (soon to be renamed Housing Australia)

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 and social and affordable housing needed to unlock and accelerate new housing supply. It currently does this through the Affordable Housing Bond Aggregator (AHBA) and National Housing Infrastructure Facility (NHIF). Following the recent passage of the Federal Government’s Housing Legislative Package, NHFIC will take on additional responsibilities to support delivery of 40,000 more social and affordable homes for Australians in need, under the new Housing Australia Future Fund and National Housing Accord. NHFIC also supports eligible home buyers by administering the Home Guarantee Scheme that helps them purchase a home sooner. The implementation of these housing programs is supported by NHFIC’s research, data and analytics capability.  For more information and the latest data on our achievements, visit nhfic.gov.au.