Six months ago, I was honoured to assume the role of inaugural Independent Chairman of HOPE Housing. This appointment marked a formal continuation of my involvement with an organisation that has rapidly grown in both impact and significance since its launch in November 2022.
In 2018, when I first became involved with HOPE, Sydney’s median house price was circa $1 million. As of today, this median is now $1.53 million.
Prices have jumped 36.7% in the past 5 years according to the Cotality Home Value Index. Essential workers are among the hardest hit by these increases. They are the people who keep our communities safe, healthy, and functioning – yet many can no longer afford to live near where they serve.
The Challenge and Solution
The 2025 Demographia International Housing Affordability Report ranked Sydney as the second least affordable housing market in the world, with prices nearly 14 times median household income. This is the reality of housing affordability for our essential workers.
Governments are acting, with supply-side measures and schemes such as the Home Guarantee Scheme and the forthcoming Help to Buy shared-equity model. These will help some, but they won’t reach everyone. HOPE complements these initiatives by serving the many essential workers who fall outside government programs and need a pathway to homeownership today.
HOPE empowers essential workers to buy quality homes in the communities they serve, bridging the gap when a deposit and a loan on their own simply aren’t enough.
Progress and Momentum
Our portfolio continues to show resilience and strength. While the broader Sydney market has seen volatility, HOPE’s portfolio of assets has performed above the market average since inception. This reflects:
- A disciplined “buy well” program that ensures essential workers purchase the right home at the right price.
- Robust due diligence and governance, guided by our Investment Committee.
This discipline was recognised last year when HOPE received the Sustainable Plus certification from the Responsible Investment Association Australasia. We are proud to be the first unlisted property fund manager in Australia to achieve this standard, which recognises the quality of our investment process and the transparency of our social impact reporting.
Impact in Action
Behind the numbers are stories of real people. HOPE has co-invested in 24 homes, supporting 36 essential workers – nurses, teachers, police officers, firefighters and more. Home ownership has given them the stability to focus on their families, their wellbeing and the communities they serve.
One of the strongest signals of our impact is what happens after purchase. Several homeowners have already chosen to buy out some of HOPE’s equity stake, returning close to $1 million in cash to the Fund this year alone. That capital is now being invested to enable more essential workers to become homeowners.
The Path Ahead
We now have close to 2,000 essential worker households on the HOPE Housing waitlist. Each household represents one or two frontline professionals who want to own a home near the community they serve, but they cannot do it alone.
With a proven track record and strong operational foundations, HOPE Housing is moving from early-stage to an established fund manager. Achieving scale, however, requires additional capital.
That’s where you, our investors, are vital. With your support we can co-invest alongside more essential workers – delivering you a financial return that has a low correlation to traditional asset classes.
In my career, I’ve seen many investment opportunities. What makes HOPE different is its ability to combine financial performance with social impact in a way that is scalable. This is not just about property returns, it is also about building stronger communities, securing the future of essential workers and proving that smart capital can achieve both.
HOPE is poised and ready to grow. I invite you to be part of it.
Michael Dwyer AM
Chairman, HOPE Housing
