Defining key worker housing

Affordable housing is essential infrastructure and is vital to improve the liveability of our city. It supports the diversity of our community and the productivity of our economy.

Through our Council Plan, the City of Melbourne is committed to facilitating more affordable housing for key workers. We have reaffirmed this in our Affordable Housing Strategy and have now developed a definition of 'key worker housing'.

City of Melbourne conducted research in 2023 to help us understand who the key workers are in our city, and how we can support more people on very low to moderate incomes to live in the city.

From October to December 2023, we asked the community and industry partners to review the draft definition and have their say. City of Melbourne then refined the draft definition, and presented a final definition for endorsement at the Future Melbourne Committee meeting in April 2024.

The City of Melbourne defines key worker housing as: “Affordable rental housing that is appropriate for people who work within the City of Melbourne, who are required to be physically present to perform their work, and whose household earns very low, low or moderate incomes. The housing must be owned, or managed, or allocated and monitored by a Registered Housing Agency or registered charity to the satisfaction of Council."

For further information, please review the 'Document Library' or contact homesmelbourne@melbourne.vic.gov.au

News

Timeline

  • Timeline item 1 - complete

    ​Community consultation open

    16 October to 10 December 2023

  • Timeline item 2 - complete

    Engagement analysis

    Findings analysed and definition refined: December to January 2024

  • Timeline item 3 - complete

    Final definition approved

    Final definition approved at the Future Melbourne Committee meeting: April 2024

Community engagement findings

Research summary - second engagement

The purpose of the engagement was to seek feedback from the community and our industry partners on a draft key worker housing definition.

Research summary

Read the views and experiences of City of Melbourne Key Workers about housing.

Timeline

  • Timeline item 1 - complete

    Community consultation is open

    24 May to 14 June 2023

  • Timeline item 2 - complete

    Survey findings are analysed and report written

    July to August 2023

  • Timeline item 3 - complete

    Report taken to Future Melbourne Committee meeting

    5 September 2023

Contact us

Have questions or want to learn more about the project?