National Housing Infrastructure Facility Critical Infrastructure (NHIF CI)

Finance to unlock new housing supply.

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    The National Housing Infrastructure Facility (NHIF) is a $1 billion facility that provides financing for: 

    1. Eligible housing enabling critical infrastructure projects that will unlock new housing supply, particularly social and affordable housing 
    2. From 23 November 2022, new social or affordable housing.  

    The NHIF offers concessional loans, grants and, in certain limited cases, equity finance to help support critical housing-enabling infrastructure.  

    To be eligible for financing, an applicant must demonstrate that without NHFIC financing, the project would be unlikely to proceed, likely to proceed only at a much later date, or with a lesser impact on new housing (particularly social or affordable housing).  

    As part of the Federal Government’s 2022 budget commitments, the remit of the National Housing Infrastructure Facility (NHIF) has been widened, making up to $575 million available to invest in new social or affordable housing projects in addition to financing housing-enabling infrastructure. 

    The information on this page provides further details about NHIF Finance for housing enabling critical infrastructure (NHIF CI) and how to apply. 

    More information about the NHIF for social and affordable housing (NHIF SAH) is available here.

    What can NHIF CI finance be used for?

    The NHIF CI can provide finance to help support critical housing-enabling infrastructure. This includes new or upgraded infrastructure for:

    Electricity and Gas
    Water, sewerage and stormwater
    Transportation including roads
    Telecommunications

    NHIF CI finance can also be used for: 

    • Demolition and site remediation including the removal of hazardous waste or contamination 

    • Onsite and linking infrastructure 

    The terms of NHIF CI finance are flexible with a range of concessions available to suit the applicant’s project requirements. These may include, for example, concessional interest rates, and/or longer loan tenure or extended period of capitalised interest and potentially combined with a grant component for projects that meet the eligibility criteria. 

     

    How does it work?

    Eligible applicants can apply for finance for a:

    • NHIF CI concessional loan
    • NHIF CI grant
    • NHIF CI equity investment
    • Combination of these financing options.

    Where the application is for a grant, NHFIC will give priority to proposals that also seek other forms of NHFIC finance as part of a blended financing arrangement.

     

    What can't NHIF CI finance be used for?

    Funding will not be provided through the NHIF CI for:

    • Housing itself or community infrastructure such as parks, day-care centres or libraries
    • Acquisition or refinance of land holdings, levies or contributions
    • Feasibility, scoping or planning studies or consultancy costs
    • Administrative costs associated with a project

    Who is eligible

    Any of the following applicants may apply for finance through the NHIF CI:

    • Registered community housing providers
    • State or territory governments or government-owned development corporations or utility providers
    • Local governments or their investment corporations or utility providers
    • Incorporated special purpose vehicles that have at least one eligible foundation member (as above).

    How to apply

    How the application process works:

    1. Consider the NHIF CI Guidelines
    2. Submit an EOI to inquiries@nhfic.gov.au 
    3. NHFIC Origination team will contact you to discuss your EOI
    4. Submit a formal NHIF CI application
    5. NHFIC assesses the application and determines key financing terms and conditions
    6. NHFIC notifies you of the outcome in writing.

    Need more information?

    If you are interested in applying for NHIF CI finance, NHFIC encourages applicants to read the NHIF CI guidelines and fact sheet first to find out more about the application process, terms and conditions.

    For further questions, contact NHFIC here.