The government has published its housing targets for 2019-20, setting out what percentage of new land release sites will be allocated for public, affordable and community housing.

Of the 3440 residential sites to be sold off this year, 628, or 18.2 per cent, will be aimed at low-income earners.

That is above the government's 15 per cent target for affordable housing in new land releases, which was outlined in last year's long-awaited housing strategy.

This year's 18.2 per cent allocation is up from 13.5 per cent in 2018-19, and 3.5 per cent in the year prior.

The 2017-18 targets were roundly criticised, with affordable housing expert professor Peter Phibbs branding them "so small they're almost insignificant".

The government is this year due to sell off the first block of land in the City Hill precinct, where developers will be permitted to build up to 350 dwellings.

It wants 60 of those units to be set aside for affordable housing, with a further five earmarked for both public and community housing.

Greens housing spokeswoman Caroline Le Couteur welcomed the inclusion of lower-cost housing in the redeveloped City Hill precinct, saying it responded to "justifiable community concerns" that the area would only accommodate the well off.

But Ms Le Couteur said the overall targets were too low.

She said the allocation of 60 new public housing dwellings, which equates to about 1.7 per cent of all stock to be released in 2019-20, did not go "anywhere far enough" to meet real and growing demand.

The number of dwellings set aside for community housing - 80, or 2 per cent - was also considered too low by the Greens crossbencher.

A total of 488 affordable housing dwelling sites are due to be released in 2019-20, making up the bulk of this year's allocation of lower-cost housing.

Ms Le Couteur said community housing providers should be offered land at discounted rates, in recognition of the cheaper rentals they provided.

"There is an opportunity here for the government to deliver a long-term vision for housing in the Territory," Ms Le Couteur said.

"We can't afford for these efforts to be piecemeal if we're serious about tackling Canberra's housing affordability crisis."

The ACT's public and community housing stock has been growing at slugging pace, with the latest Australian Health and Welfare Institute figures showing just 116 new dwellings were built between June 2017 and June 2018.

The government has pledged $100 million as part of its housing strategy, which includes plans to redevelop 1000 public housing dwellings in the coming years.

The renewal program is expected to add new 200 units to the territory's public housing stock.

Housing Minister Yvette Berry did not respond to the The Canberra Times' questions about the new affordable housing targets before deadline.

Under the targets, which were published last week, 30 per cent of the 326 sites to be sold off in Coombs have been earmarked for affordable housing.

In comparison, just 16 of the 800 dwellings to be released this year in Taylor have been designated for lower-cost housing.

ACT Council of Social Service executive director Susan Heylar said the government needed to prioritise growing affordable housing stock in Canberra's new suburbs.

Ms Heylar was pleased the 15 per cent target for new affordable dwellings was being met, but said it was imperative that the government did not reduce lower-cost housing stock in any suburb.

"At least 15% affordable housing in locations with high levels of transport, greenspace, local shops, employment opportunities and services is crucial to reducing inequality and improving wellbeing," Ms Heylar said.