Let's talk about affordable housing

Affordable housing news

Keep up to date with what's happening in the affordable housing space as we work to address this shire-wide issue

What is Council doing?

We are committed to addressing the housing affordability challenge in our community.

We continue to explore opportunities to make more affordable homes available for people in Mount Alexander Shire. We continue to advocate for the housing needs of the shire and pursue options for funding and access to land on many fronts, including the use of Council's own land.

The details of these strategies are embedded in our Council Plan 2021-2025. Most actions are large-scale, longer-term activities that will take time to come to fruition.

Key responses to date

What can you do?

We know you are also keen to help.

We continue to research the effective and innovative housing affordability solutions being developed across Victoria and Australia.

We have outlined key community contribution ideas below. We are keen to hear your thoughts, so please check out each idea and then complete the online survey to let us know if any of them might work for you.

We are doing this work to gauge how interested and able our community is in contributing to making housing more affordable across our shire.

Community contribution ideas

Immediate help

Support for people in housing crisis

If you need assistance to complete a priority application for housing, please visit the Castlemaine Housing Service at Spencely House, Castlemaine Health, or phone 5479 1000.

If you need affordable housing but may not be in acute housing crisis we encourage you to add your name to the Victorian Housing Register (VHR).

The VHR is how the State Government determines housing requirements in our local community. By adding your name to the register, we can help build a case for more affordable housing in the region.

Key documents

FAQ

$430 is the median weekly rent in the shire
The availability of affordable rentals has declined by 20% since 2015
47% of shire households are in rental stress
At least 14% of shire households are in mortgage stress
5,696 more people will call the shire home by 2046

Source: Census data, REMPLAN, Valuer-General.

Affordable housing is housing for very-low to medium income households that costs no more than 30% (often no higher than 25%) of income.

Council made a commitment to affordable housing in the 2021-2025 Plan. This commitment reflects widespread concern in our communities about the lack of affordable housing.

The Victorian Housing Register is the wait list for people seeking affordable rental housing.

Data released in 2023 indicates that over 700 Mount Alexander Shire households are on the wait list for affordable housing.

A recent survey of local businesses indicated. Of responding businesses:

Over 80% were experiencing impacts on staff recruitment due to lack of housing, and the lack of affordable homes.
Over 80% were also experiencing difficulties retaining staff due to the impacts of housing affordability on staff’s household budgets.

Recently released data from the Valuer General reinforces how significantly housing prices (and so also costs) have risen. Since 2020 there has been a median increase of 37% in property values across our shire.

Currently, there are over 700 households in Mount Alexander shire with an unmet need for affordable housing.

This means residents face a higher risk of homelessness or insecure housing if their income or household changes, such as through a family breakdown or separation, temporary unemployment, accident, or injury.

Limited affordable housing also prevents the shire's key workers from living in the area they work, and young people from starting out on their own in the area they grew up.

Without intervention, the shortage of affordable housing will only increase. Housing affordability is already causing locals to leave the shire, businesses are struggling to find and retain staff and more households are under financial strain.

Council does not provide, build or allocate affordable housing. Our role is to encourage and facilitate the provision of affordable housing through the planning system, direct support, partnerships and advocacy.

To coordinate this work Council appointed a dedicated Housing Solutions Broker, Clare Richards in 2021.

Council works in partnership with regional community housing associations and providers, and other relevant groups, to identify a range of possible responses to affordable housing.

Council continues to pursue funding opportunities with with State and Federal governments. Both recently releasing their housing policy and funding mechanisms, providing more opportunities to apply for funding.

The community of Mount Alexander Shire has yet to benefit from funding via the Big Housing Build.

There is no certainty about any further State Government grant funding for people most in need.

A smiling woman with long blonde hair and glasses

Clare Richards

Housing Solutions Broker

Clare coordinates the work we are doing in the affordable housing space.

Key contacts

Have questions or want to learn more about housing affordability, contact us below:

Name	Clare Richards, Housing Solutions Broker
Phone	5471 1700
Email	affordablehousing@mountalexander.vic.gov.au

Shape Mount Alexander

Let's talk about affordable housing

Affordable housing news

What is Council doing?

Key responses to date

Affordable apartments

Housing for older residents

Trust Deed

What can you do?

Community contribution ideas

Volunteer your skills, time and knowledge...

Mount Alexander Charitable Property Trust

Release residential land

Immediate help

Support for people in housing crisis

Key documents

Clare Richards

Housing Solutions Broker

“A liveable community is one that has affordable and appropriate housing.”

“Affordable housing is a human right.”

“People can’t leave domestic violence situations or controlling relationships because they can’t get alternative housing or can’t financially afford to live as a single parent.”

“It’s not just worker retention that matters, it’s about housing affordability for all. Low income families, singles, especially.”

“The shire needs to be smart, be innovative and to build more housing.”