More than 400 new homes are set to be built for the Victorian Aboriginal community as part of a $150 funding injection.
The Victorian government announced on Thursday it has set aside $150 million to build the homes through various Aboriginal grants programs, helping to combat homelessness among First Nations People.
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Gabrielle Williams said the extra money would go a long way to fostering self-determination and culturally safe housing options for Aboriginal Victorians.
"When First Nations Victorians manage their own affairs, such as housing, we know outcomes are better for everyone," she said.
According to the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service's 2021 annual report, one in six Aboriginal people in Victoria require homelessness assistance and are ten times more likely to contact these services than other residents.
“Having a home means security, stability and staying safe – and we are delivering more culturally safe housing options for Aboriginal people across the state," said Housing Minister Richard Wynne.
The new grants are available to Aboriginal households on the Victorian Housing Register, and exist on top of $35 million upgrade to existing Aboriginal housing - part of the state's $5.3 billion Big Housing Build scheme.
Under the plan, 12,000 new social and affordable homes were expected to be built over a four-year span in a bid to boost the state's housing supply by 10 per cent.
The projects, located across 38 local government areas, ranged from a 152-home development in Melbourne to several two-home developments in regional areas including Ballarat, Bendigo Shepparton, Wodonga and Warrnambool.
The state government is chipping in $740 million to the scheme, with the rest of the bill footed by 22 community housing agencies.
The first applications for funding under the Homes for Aboriginal Victorians round are open until early May.
