More than a roof over our head, a place to call home is essential to wellbeing. A home offers freedom and connection: freedom to choose a living situation that meets our needs without creating financial worries, as well as the ability to connect and contribute to the lives of people around us. Our cities need diverse housing to meet our changing needs over our lifetimes – from when we first leave our family home, to retirement, and everything in between. This includes crisis accommodation, specialist disability accommodation, affordable housing, social housing and culturally sensitive housing that supports communal and multi-generational living. However, today there isn’t enough affordable and diverse housing within the region, and the supply for certain types of housing does not meet the current demand. Infrastructure Australia recently identified the ‘availability, diversity and affordability of housing’ as the primary infrastructure gap in regional areas. In some suburbs in 2016, about a quarter of very low to moderate income households were spending more than 30 per cent of their household income on rent, placing them in rental stress. So how can we address these challenges? By building for resilient, adaptable, affordable and diverse homes that are connected to transport hubs and local infrastructure, including social housing. And by working with all levels of government and industry to make a commitment to improve affordable housing. In 20 years, we hope that a large-scale program will have rolled out across the region that has led to social and affordable housing being built on government land. Integrated planning will mean that green and adaptable homes are connected to existing and planned transport infrastructure. Homes will reflect the diverse needs of the population, including life stage and cultural needs, so that everyone has a safe and appropriate place to call home.