ACT Election 2020: St Vincent de Paul calls for next ACT government to build 3000 social housing properties

The organisation says record low interest rates provided an opportunity for the territory and that the construction of social and community housing properties would provide a boost to the economy.

St Vincent de Paul's Canberra and Goulburn called on the changes as part of its ACT election statement.

As well, Vinnies said the right to adequate housing needed to be enshrined in the the ACT's human rights act. It followed a similar call from the ACT Council of Social Service last week. Vinnies also said it supported ACTCOSS' call to mandate that 15 per cent of the ACT's land release program be set aside for public, community and affordable housing.

The ACT has a social housing shortfall of 3000 properties, according to data from Homelessness Australia and Everybody's Home released last month.

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"We see firsthand and we advocate for people who are looking for housing through the public housing system and there is a clear shortage of affordable housing in Canberra," St Vincent de Paul Canberra/ Goulburn president John Feint said.

"People [are] frequently having to couch surf, are moving from friends to friends or being placed under considerable stress in private rentals until they can find public housing.

"It's a challenge to keep up with the demand for public housing... but I think if you can sort out the housing issue for people it takes a lot of stress out of people's lives."