City of Melbourne is in the midst of an affordable housing crisis. There are 1725 people experiencing homelessness including women and children escaping family violence, people with disabilities and pensioners. Pre-COVID-19 we had a short fall of 5500 safe and affordable rental homes and emergency accommodation for people on moderate, low and very low incomes, including those experiencing homelessness. This shortfall is a result of a range of factors including a rapidly growing population, rents increasing faster than wages and insufficient investment in social and affordable housing over many years. We know that COVID-19 has increased the need for affordable housing in the short term, and we need to respond now.