Affordable housing

Social housing is made of community housing and public housing for very low and low-income households.

Community housing is affordable housing that is provided, owned or managed by registered community housing organisations.

There are also non-registered organisations providing community housing. This includes:

• churches
• charitable organisations
• community housing management organisations
• community housing developers or providers.

Public housing is affordable housing that is provided, owned or managed by the Victorian Government’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

There is a significant proportion of social housing in Port Phillip. In 2018 there were 4,205 social housing units, comprising 6.9 per cent of total dwellings. Of this, 58 per cent was public housing, 33 per cent community housing, and the rest crisis and transitional housing.

Social housing can also include supported housing for high needs persons, such as the Common Ground or Youth Foyer models. Currently, there are no Common Ground or Youth Foyer housing in Port Phillip.

Social housing is allocated through the Victorian Housing Register.

For information about other housing options, visit Housing and Homelessness Support Services.

Public housing

There is a range of public housing options across the City of Port Phillip including rooming houses, community and public housing, and supported accommodation.

Council also supports older people with strong links to the area through sponsorship housing.

Community housing

As well as public housing, you can find a range of local community housing options in Port Phillip.

Social housing

The City of Port Phillip facilitates the provision of social housing in Port Phillip for the DHHS and locally based and externally based community housing organisations. This can be through:

• facilitating and supporting the development of community housing projects
• facilitating and supporting joint ventures between the DHHS and community housing organisations
• negotiation with private developers to provide affordable and community housing
• undertaking research into housing need, and social housing car parking demand
• identifying property suitable for community housing, and opportunities for public housing estate redevelopment
• assistance during the planning permit application process
• support for funding applications with the DHHS.

More information

For information on public housing, contact South Melbourne Housing Office:

Address: 120 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne
Phone: 03 9096 1800

For information and questions on Council Services, contact us and ask for Housing and Homelessness Services.