As an affordable place to live, Melbourne will provide affordable accommodation, food and services. Our municipality will offer a mix of housing and facilities, reflecting and supporting our diverse and inclusive community.
Future Melbourne 2008

Overview

Ideas relating to the City of Melbourne being an affordable place to live were overwhelmingly about making accommodation more affordable for those on low incomes. Particular attention was paid to increasing the availability of affordable rental accommodation with the central idea being that a more diverse and inclusive population choosing and being able to live centrally would be a good thing for the city. In addition to this, general inner city affordability was raised by several who saw that accommodation was not the only factor limiting access to city living.

There was overlap between this Priority and Priority 1.2. Inclusive Community.

Summary of ideas (Total 76 Statements)

Housing Affordability (52 Statements)

A large number of comments relating to Melbourne being an affordable place to live stated that centrally-located housing needs to be affordable for all income levels. It was important to a large number of people that more affordable housing becomes available. The emphasis was on rental accommodation, but the importance of access to affordable properties to own and live in, was also stated by some.

Within these statements, most people identified low-income groups, or ‘the average person’, as those for whom housing should be affordable. This included families, single people, students, the young and the aged. Individual comments stated the benefits of access to affordable housing could mean a more diverse and vibrant city, a more stable population, living closer to work places, and getting people onto the property ladder.

Several people suggested ways in which affordable housing might be delivered. Some suggested a specific percentage (15%, 25% and 15-20% proposed) of future housing developments be designated as affordable. Some people referenced other global cities as exemplars to look to, such as New York. One detailed idea proposed that an Affordable Housing Plan is necessary to address this issue and similarly another suggested a comprehensive housing policy. A couple of people stated that foreign investment was driving housing prices up and making it unaffordable.

Housing for everyone (14 Statements)

Alongside housing affordability, many people sought suitable and accessible housing for all ages, abilities, genders and life stages. Allowing and attracting a diverse range of people to live in the city was seen as important by several people. They wanted to see city housing that caters to a range of needs, and does not exclude the variety of groups wanting to live in the city.

Housing should be accessible to all. Not only accessible, but desirable to people of all ages, abilities, income levels and genders

Living affordability (10 Statements)

Some people specifically highlighted that affordable living did not just refer to affordable housing but also to transport, education, healthcare, the cost of goods and services and proximity to workplace. This was seen by people as an important way to help eliminate homelessness, poverty and inner-city ghettos. There is further discussion on transport affordability under Priority 6.1. Effective and integrated public transport.