Expressions of interest are now open for the ACT government-backed housing project that aims to help single women on moderate incomes enter the housing market.
A new project has been launched by the ACT government and community housing provider CHC Australia that aims to help middle-income earning women purchase a home within 10 years.
The Women’s Housing Initiative (WHI) in the suburb of Strathnairn (on the edge of West Belconnen) is the first Build to Rent to Buy of its kind in the ACT and is designed to directly address the widening affordability gap faced by working single women.
This is the first program to be announced in the ACT following the federal government’s widening of the National Housing Infrastructure Facility (NHIF) to fund social and affordable housing.
Under the in-principle proposal, NHFIC will provide up to $7.14 million in concessional loans from the NHIF to the project and will be combined with a $4.5 million grant from the ACT government. CHC plans to acquire the site to develop the homes and maintain the program on a long-term basis.
It aims to provide a 10-year home ownership pathway for single women aged 25–45 – including those with children – who have stable employment, but are unable to save a sufficient deposit or meet strict lending requirements to buy their own home.
The project is now taking expressions of interest.
How does it work?
Under the scheme, eligible participants pay an “affordable” rent set at just below 75 per cent of market value, and when ready, tenants can then use their accumulated savings as the deposit to access a loan (program partners so far include National Australia Bank [NAB] and ServiceOne).
The program offers up to 10 years of tenancy and gives tenants the first option to buy their home (subject to meeting specified savings targets and other requirements) between six and 10 years in.
When ready, tenants can use their accumulated savings as their deposit.
However, where needed/if the tenant has not saved enough over the tenancy, CHC Australia can also apply a share of the property’s capital growth to help the tenant access financing to purchase the home.
For example, a single woman may use the program to rent a one-bedroom home at the discounted 75 per cent rate of around $350 a week (instead of $470 a week), allowing her to save the remaining 25 per cent (or around $4,700 a year) toward a deposit, while living comfortably.
After 10 years, she may have saved $58,000, increased her income to $110,000 (based on current wage growth), and can then be assessed by the lender as able to borrow $475,000 on a 30-year loan (based on her mortgage payments not exceeding 30 per cent of gross income), giving her a total budget of $532,000.
At that time, the home will be valued. If the home is valued at $614,000, for example, this would be more than she can afford on her own. However, if eligibility requirements are met, CHC would then contribute $82,000 from the home’s capital growth, enabling the tenant to purchase the home for $532,000 with $140,000 in equity at settlement.
Who is eligible?
The tenant must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, have lived in the ACT for at least six months, and cannot already own property (and have assets or savings that mean they can meet housing needs without support).
The guidance outlines indicative minimum incomes required for different household types to enter the scheme, ranging from $80,000 for a single woman with no children to $110,000 for a single woman with two or more children, depending on property size.
The program also sets fixed maximum income thresholds at entry and during participation, with caps increasing based on household size and property type. These range from $105,000 for a single woman with no dependants at entry (or $120,000 when in the program) to $130,00 at entry for a single woman with two or more children (or $176,000 once in the program).
Applicants must remain below these hard limits throughout the program and are encouraged to seek independent financial advice to account for individual circumstances.
These figures are intended as guidance only and help indicate the income likely needed to comfortably participate in the program.
The income brackets mean that eligible women may include those in the ACT’s essential workforce, including emergency service workers, nurses, educators, early childhood, aged and disability care workers.
What types of property are available?
The Strathnairn Women’s Housing Initiative will include 22 brand-new one, two, and three-bedroom town houses in the Ginninderry Development.
The new homes – being built by independent local contractor Renaissance Homes – are currently under construction with completion expected in the first quarter of 2026.
The properties are reportedly built with sustainable, energy-efficient designs and include landscaped outdoor spaces, as well as easy access to parks, services, and transport.
The project is now taking expressions of interest.
CHC Australia CEO Nathan Dal Bon said: “With cost-of-living pressures, many Canberrans – particularly financially vulnerable women – are struggling with day-to-day expenses, let alone building a deposit to break into the housing market.
“This pilot initiative seeks to disrupt that cycle supporting participants to steadily build savings through reduced rent, while also giving them the opportunity to share in the property’s capital growth.”
He flagged that participants can access early financial health checks and receive practical advice on saving and loan readiness from their own bank or with support from program partners NAB and ServiceOne, and suggested that financial readiness support is a “cornerstone” of the pilot, with prospective tenants encouraged to seek financial or credit advice to understand loan requirements.
According to CHC Australia, if the project is successful, the model will be replicated through future rounds of the Build to Rent to Buy scheme.
“Our intent is simple and ambitious, to reduce housing stress for women and their children and create a clear, supported pathway to build assets and intergenerational wealth,” Dal Bon said.
“If the pilot is successful, we intend to replicate the model through future rounds of Build to Rent to Buy housing.”
The program was first announced in 2023, when Minister for Housing Julie Collins said: “Too many women across Australia don’t have access to safe and secure housing.
“This is an important step in changing that for women in Canberra. This will not only provide an affordable place to rent – it is a steppingstone to the security of home ownership.”
ACT Minister for Housing and Suburban Development and Minister for Women, Yvette Berry MLA, stated at the time: “The Ginninderry Women’s Housing Project is designed to provide a pathway to home ownership for financially vulnerable women who otherwise would struggle to enter the housing market.
“This is not just about providing a roof over women’s heads; it’s about giving a real solution to the housing crisis many women face in our community.
“This initiative will enable women to focus on building the future they want without struggling to make ends meet.
“It is a fantastic opportunity and reflects the ACT Government’s commitment to putting housing first for those in need in our community.”
[Related: Help to Buy start date revealed]
