In the midst of Melbourne’s escalating housing crisis, it’s surprising to see new social housing units sitting empty.
Despite being completed over six months ago, mixed housing developments in Prahran, Brighton, and Flemington, funded by a $519 million Victorian government initiative, remain significantly underoccupied.
At the Bangs Street site in Prahran, only 60% of the units are filled, while Flemington sees 22% of its apartments vacant.
Unoccupied Social Housing Sparks Concern
Across these developments, over a quarter of the social housing units remain uninhabited. This situation has caused frustration, especially given the long waiting lists for housing in the region.

Katelyn Butterss, CEO of the Victorian Public Tenants Association, expressed disappointment, stressing the need for these homes to provide safe and dignified living spaces for those in need.
Despite these concerns, a spokesperson for Homes Victoria assured that occupancy levels are progressing as expected, with full occupancy anticipated in the coming months.
As the housing crisis intensifies, the slow occupancy rates of these units highlight the need for swift action to provide much-needed housing for vulnerable residents.
Source 9news