Victoria has committed over $200 million to new affordable housing builds. 

The state government says $219 million in grants will deliver 683 new affordable social houses in regional Victoria. 

“It's making sure people have stable, secure, and affordable housing,” Housing Minister Danny Pearson said this week.

The funding will be shared among 17 community housing agencies, with some projects set  specifically for residents aged 55 and above.

Construction of the energy-efficient homes should start next year, and could create over 2,600 jobs.

“You get the double benefit of affordable social housing and the job creation that goes along with that,” Mr Pearson said. 

The funding comes from the state government's $5.3 billion Big Housing Build announcment in the 2020/21 state budget.

The state has over 36,000 applications for social housing that have been deemed priority matters for people who urgently need housing.

Shadow Housing Minister Richard Riordan has described the announcement of 683 homes for regional Victoria as a “drop in the ocean”.