The Hon Tanya Plibersek, Federal Minister for Housing, today announced the building of 200 national affordable houses in Ballarat to be provided by Ethan Affordable Housing.

Ethan Affordable Housing, a not-for-profit organisation that provides affordable housing solutions to low and medium income families, received incentives under the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) to build 200 new dwellings in the Ballarat area.

The NRAS is a federal government initiative to encourage the construction of new dwellings that will be made available for key workers to rent with a 20 per cent discount.

Eligible tenants include police, nurses and other medium income workers who can earn over $100,000 and still receive the discounted rent, said a statement from Ethan Affordable Housing. Tenants who earn under the prescribed amount can apply in 2011.

"This announcement is a great win for the Ballarat families who are struggling to keep up with the increasing rental prices," Ethan Affordable Housing CEO Ashley Fenn said.

"We will be able to provide a mix of dwellings that provide one and two bedroom units for single and couples and three and four bedroom homes for families."