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Housing Australia releases National Housing Infrastructure Facility Review

Housing Australia has today released the National Housing Infrastructure Facility (NHIF) Review, providing an in-depth look at the Facility's performance, evolving impact and the housing outcomes achieved through NHIF-funded projects to 31 December 2024.

Established by the Australian Government in 2018 as a $1 billion initiative to finance critical housing-enabling infrastructure - such as utilities and roads - the NHIF remit expanded in 2022 to enable direct investment in new social and affordable housing. In 2024, NHIF received a further $1 billion to support housing solutions for vulnerable Australians including women and children affected by family and domestic violence, and young people at-risk of, or experiencing, homelessness.

Housing Australia administers the NHIF through three distinct funding streams:

  • NHIF Critical Infrastructure (NHIF CI)
  • NHIF Social and Affordable Housing (NHIF SAH)
  • NHIF Crisis and Transitional Housing (NHIF CT)

Key highlights of the NHIF Review: 

  • A total of $640 million in concessional loans and grants has been committed under the NHIF. This includes nearly $391 million through NHIF CI—potentially supporting up to 6,800 homes when all projects are complete—and $249 million through NHIF SAH, aimed at delivering up to 1,200 homes. 

  • Since the NHIF mandate expanded in November 2022 to include social and affordable housing, more than 72% of approved funding (over $340 million) has been directed to such projects. 

  • The NHIF has enabled housing outcomes across metro and regional Australia, showcasing national reach and impact. 

  • NHIF funding plays a central role in leveraging state and territory grants, commercial lending, institutional investment as well as Housing Australia’s Affordable Housing Bond Aggregator (AHBA) which supports approximately one-in-five NHIF projects. 

  • More than 2,400 homes are designated for priority tenant cohorts, including First Nations Australians, older women, those escaping family violence, as well as key workers. 

  • NHIF funding encourages innovation in housing delivery. A recent example of such innovation is a 490-dwelling development in regional Australia, built entirely with modular construction technologies – which is believed to be the largest ever fully modular housing development in the Southern Hemisphere.  

  • Infrastructure projects funded by the NHIF have unlocked significant land for housing, laying the groundwork for future large-scale, long-term development outcomes ultimately unlocking increased social and affordable housing.  

Housing Australia CEO, Scott Langford; said: “The NHIF Review captures the Facility’s growing role in unlocking housing supply through strategic infrastructure investment, to support vulnerable Australians in need of social and affordable accommodation.”  

“By working collaboratively with government, industry and finance partners, the NHIF is continuing to deliver sustainable housing outcomes for those most in need, around the country.” 

Housing Australia’s Deputy Chief Investment Officer and Executive Leader, Clients and Capital, Michael Camerlengo, said: “This Review shows that the NHIF is delivering on its core mission, ensuring essential housing projects proceed sooner, at greater scale and with more impact than would otherwise be possible.” 

“NHIF funding is helping bring projects to life that may not otherwise proceed. A key strength of the Facility is its ability to work in partnership with other funding sources, including state and territory governments, commercial banks, institutional investors, and the AHBA.” 

For full details and insights, view the complete report here. 

NOTE: NHIF Crisis and Transitional Housing (NHIF CT) launched in March 2025—therefore not included in the NHIF Review (to 31 December 2024).