Canberra renters facing financial hardship will be able to apply for grants of up to $2500 when the ACT government’s $5.2 million Housing Crisis Support Fund opens on September 30.

Administered by Care Inc, the fund will cover up to four weeks’ rent, capped at $2500, and provide a $250 Crisis Support Payment towards expenses including utilities, insurance and basic furnishings.

The government expects the fund to support more than 3300 Canberrans through rent subsidies and crisis payments.

Newly housed public housing tenants will also be eligible for a $250 support payment in 2026-27.

The fund forms part of the government’s housing measures in the 2026-27 ACT Budget, which is expected to pass the Legislative Assembly this week.

The Budget provides $360 million for a new Public Housing Pipeline to deliver an additional 450 public homes, through a combination of new construction, redevelopment and market purchases.

It also provides additional funding for repairs and maintenance of existing public housing, taking spending on the program to more than $401.5 million over four years.

A new government-backed loan guarantee program will support community housing projects, with guarantees of up to $650 million intended to help deliver more than 1000 social and affordable homes.

Other Budget measures include abolishing stamp duty for first-home buyers, measures to encourage more “missing middle” housing and a five-year land release program expected to enable close to 26,000 new homes.

The government has set a target of enabling 30,000 new homes in Canberra by the end of 2030.

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