Every Victorian need a safe and affordable place to live, in a community that provides opportunities to flourish. The market alone is unable to meet that need and governments at all levels must work together with the private and not-for-profit sectors to help achieve it. Melbourne’s shortage of affordable housing has reached chronic levels. This crisis has multiple causes, including the loss of purchasing power in the housing market experienced by a diverse and growing number of households. Household incomes, especially for renter households, have not kept pace with the growth of house prices and rents. As a result, many Melbournians have very limited housing options, and spend an unacceptably high proportion of income on housing costs, leaving little left to cover other basic needs.