Adequate and affordable housing has multiple benefits for our communities and the world, improving health and sanitation and creating economic opportunities. It can also provide a ladder out of poverty, reducing inequality, giving access to education and building resilience against economic and natural disasters. Furthermore, construction contributes to jobs while sustainable design helps to mitigate climate change.
Active Super is proud to invest in affordable housing projects in Australia and around the world.
Australia
One example is Victoria’s Big Housing Build. As the state’s largest-ever investment in social and affordable housing, this $5.3 billion project is creating thousands of new homes for people in need and also creating tens of thousands of new jobs.
The project is expected to create over 12,000 new homes across Victoria, including 9,300 new social housing dwellings. 10% of all new social dwellings will support Aboriginal housing needs and all new homes will meet 7-star NatHERS (Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme) efficiency standards. Furthermore, 10% of work on large projects will be done by apprentices, cadets and trainees.
Around the world
Active Super is also investing in affordable housing projects in other parts of the world. One project in the West of England takes low-quality greenfield and brownfield land and converts it into high-quality, design-led schemes, providing much needed new homes that are also highly energy efficient. The project also includes development of public open spaces, educational facilities, highways and town centre improvements.
Another project in Swansea, Wales, will create 780-bed student accommodation. As a new building, the energy efficiency rating will be of the highest level. Additional students will provide a significant economic boost to the local economy and the design of the project will help to transform the city centre.
Meanwhile, elsewhere around the world, Active Super is also investing in projects that will provide residential care facilities for the elderly and people with specific health conditions, as well as assisted living options and nursing homes.
Active Super’s Head of Responsible Investment, Moya Yip, explains that affordable housing is an important component of achieving many of the globally recognised Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of 17 aspirational goals developed by the United Nations to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
