Victoria’s housing crisis is worsening, with more people struggling to find affordable homes, according to a new report from the Council to Homeless Persons (CHP).
The nonprofit group released its findings on Wednesday, highlighting a sharp rise in demand for social housing—government-backed options for those priced out of the private market. As of March 2025, a record 66,117 Victorians sat on the waitlist for these homes, marking a 7.4 percent jump from 2024.
What’s more, Victoria lags behind the rest of Australia. The state offers just 3 percent of its housing as social options, the lowest rate among the country’s eight states and territories.
Family violence and skyrocketing costs are driving many to the brink. Over 13,000 people each month turn to homelessness services to escape domestic abuse, while more than 10,000 seek help due to housing affordability stress. In June alone, 33,467 Victorians received support from specialist homelessness services—a 9.7 percent increase since July 2017.
As Australia’s second-most populous state, with 7.05 million residents making up 25.6 percent of the national total, Victoria faces immense pressure. The report notes that the state accounts for over one-third of all Australians accessing these services because of affordability issues, yet its government spending on housing and homelessness falls below the national average.
CHP urges the state government to act fast with three key steps: build at least 4,000 new social homes every year, ramp up funding for homelessness prevention, and increase support for crisis accommodation and services.
“Every day in Victoria, tens of thousands of people face impossible choices between paying rent, escaping violence, or risking homelessness,” said Deborah Di Natale, CHP’s chief executive, in a statement.
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