Australia’s peak housing and property groups have joined with the ACTU, ACOSS and Industry Super Australia to form a national alliance focused on increasing the provision of social and affordable housing across Australia.

Investment in housing as part of a stimulus program as Australia navigates the economic impacts of the COVID-19 health pandemic is one critical way that governments can work with industry to help re-boot economic activity.

The core members of the Alliance are:
 Housing Industry Association,
 National Shelter,
 Property Council of Australia,
 Community Housing Industry Association,
 Australian Council of Trade Unions,
 Australian Council of Social Services,
 Master Builders Australia,
 Industry Super Australia, and
 Homelessness Australia.

For the full media release click here

A coalition of national housing and homelessness peak bodies have released their pre-Budget Submissions to the Federal Government with one united call – invest in social housing as economic stimulus. The Social Housing Acceleration and Renovation Program (SHARP) underpins all three budget submissions from Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA), National Shelter, and Homelessness Australia.

The Social Housing Acceleration and Renovation Program (SHARP) involves:
1. Wave 1 – social housing maintenance and upgrading
2. Wave 2 – acquisition of sites and properties requiring renovation / completion which are suitable for social housing
3. Wave 3 – shovel ready development projects
4. Wave 4 – longer term new development projects

Read the full media release here

CHL have developed an apprenticeship program that helps young Tasmanians such as Billy Cadman. Billy joined CHL in 2016 as a trainee apprentice. Since then he has been promoted to Maintenance Assistant Supervisor and was also one of the first members of the CHL Aboriginal Employee Alliance actively advocating for opportunities for Indigenous staff and tenants.

According to Steve Bevington, Managing Director of CHL Group, “It is wonderful to see that Billy’s hard work has got him the recognition and opportunity he deserves. One of the company’s mission is to provide employment opportunities and to develop job skills within the communities it works. We are proud to run a traineeship program since the organisation took over the management of 1,200 public housing properties in the northern suburbs 7 years ago.

“To date we have had 18 trainees, out of which 15 are currently engaged in different areas such as general admin, carpentry, horticulture. 10 trainees have been employed permanently with CHL after the completion of their traineeships. This is a wonderful outcome for the trainees, the community and for CHL,” adds Steve.

Full media release here

CHIA, CHIA VIC and GBCA yesterday presented an online session exploring the Green Building Council Australia’s national Green Star standard and other sector initiatives.

The slides which were presented at the session can be accessed here. 

For further information on the work of the GBCA, please contact [email protected]

Leading not for profit social and community housing provider, Community Housing Ltd (CHL) has announced the completion of twenty-four (24) brand new affordable homes in Melbourne’s growing north-eastern suburb of Mernda – an initiative made possible by a three-way partnership between the philanthropic, public and not for profit sector.

The $6.1 million development has been jointly funded by the Philanthropic organisation Peter and Lyndy White (P&LW) Foundation who is the majority contributor with over $4.2million followed by $1.2 million from the Victorian Government’s Social Housing Growth Fund and the remainder by CHL. Designed and built by CHL, the new homes will be rented out to eligible people with local community links, at subsidised rent.

Full media release here

ACT Shelter, ACTCOSS and the Community Housing Industry Association (ACT Region) collectively welcome the Homelessness Week Housing Stimulus announced by the Chief Minister today but question the opportunity cost, and warn that without substantial and sustained ongoing investment social and affordable housing there will be fewer housing options available for Canberrans most in need when the Housing Strategy expires in 2028.

“Investment in social housing infrastructure, such as public housing, is a win-win. Secure homes for people with disabilities and secure jobs for construction workers are a great social return on investment. The addition of 60 new class C homes will provide vital accessible and affordable housing options with security of tenure to support people with disabilities to exercise more choice and control over housing decisions. Infrastructure upgrades to extend the asset life of multiunit complexes will support hundreds of Canberrans to stay safely housed…” ACTCOSS Director, Emma Campbell said today.

Full media release here

To launch Homelessness Week 2020, national homelessness peak Homelessness Australia and national housing and homelessness campaign Everybody’s Home have released interactive heatmaps that show how wide-spread homelessness is and how drastically Australia needs more social housing. The data shows that homelessness and shortfalls in social housing are problems in every electorate in Australia, with electorates from rural Northern Territory, inner-city Sydney, the inner suburbs of Melbourne and Far North Queensland all amongst the worst affected. According to the data, Australia has a social housing shortfall of about 433,000 properties and around 116,000 people are homeless on any given night. The data is available from this link.

The As part of Homelessness Week, Homelessness Australia and Everybody’s Home are calling on all federal MPs to sign a social housing pledge committing to investment in social housing to help end homelessness, and also deliver urgently needed jobs.

Full media release here

Improving understanding of veteran homelessness among housing providers will be the focus of a new set of industry standards, training materials and a toolkit being developed by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) and CHIA.

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Darren Chester said any instance of veteran homelessness was
concerning and this initiative will strengthen the relationship between housing providers, DVA, ex service organisations (ESOs) and Open Arms – Veterans and Families Counselling.
“Where DVA is made aware of a veteran who is homeless or at risk of homelessness, all of these
organisations work together to ensure they are appropriately looked after, and this joint initiative between DVA and CHIA will raise further awareness of veterans’ unique risk factors,” Mr Chester said.

“Partnering with CHIA on this work is vital as it represents all community housing providers across Australia, managing more than 100,000 rental properties, which will allow us to connect with veteran communities in all states and territories.
“The Australian Government is committed to better understanding homelessness among veterans and will continue to support initiatives, such as this one, so that we are delivering quality services to those who may be struggling post-service.”

Read the full media release here

A landmark $36.1 million investment by the NSW government to combat chronic homelessness will enable community housing providers to launch life-changing programs for rough sleepers across the state.

Australia’s largest not-for-profit community housing provider Community Housing Ltd (CHL), which is a primary social and affordable housing provider in the Mid-North Coast, has received over $1.6 million in funding which will help transition 24 rough sleepers into long-term affordable housing in areas including Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Kempsey and Nambucca Heads.

Announced as part of the Together Home project, funding will support people who have been homeless specially during current times, to transition them into stable and secure accommodation.

Full media release here

Western Australian-based Access Housing Australia Ltd and Housing Choices Australia Ltd (VIC, TAS, SA and NSW) are excited to announce they have joined forces and merged to become one of Australia’s largest Community Housing Providers.

Following an extensive due diligence period, both companies are pleased to now formally announce the merger, effective as of Wednesday 1 July 2020.

With Access Housing joining the Housing Choices Australia Group of Companies, the merged entity is now responsible for the management of nearly 7,000 social and affordable homes across Australia, with assets valued in excess of $900 million and with annual revenue of nearly $70 million.

The full media release is here, and also FAQs for more information.

CHIA is pleased to be a supporting partner for this event. This national summit will take place online and registration is free here.

Event details:

The world has experienced a public health emergency that has brought with it acute economic impacts. As Australia responds to the economic crisis, we aim to recover on a path to building a better future.

There is a growing consensus in Australia and around the world that energy efficiency has a crucial role in economic recovery and providing long-term social, economic and environmental benefits. Energy efficiency projects in homes and businesses are shovel ready, labour intensive, improve productivity and lower energy bills and carbon emissions.

The multiple benefits of energy efficiency are huge, but realising them requires rapid and decisive action. Which is why the Australian Council of Social Services, Australian Industry Group, Energy Efficiency Council, and the Property Council of Australia have joined forces to host a National Summit on Wednesday 1 July 2020, Energy efficiency and Australia’s economic recovery.

We have timed the event to take place following the launch of the final report from the International Energy Agency’s Global Commission for Urgent Action on Energy Efficiency.

This Commission of global leaders from business and government has been considering how to drive increased action on energy efficiency. We are delighted that Michael Liebreich will join us to explain its findings. Mr. Liebreich is a member of the Commission and founder of New Energy Finance, which was purchased by Bloomberg LP in 2009. Michael is a leading global expert on clean energy and transportation, smart infrastructure, technology, climate finance and sustainable development.

Energy efficiency and Australia’s economic recovery will also bring together leaders from politics, business, the community sector and beyond to discuss how we can act to put energy efficiency at the heart of Australia’s economic recovery. In addition to Michael Liebreich, confirmed speakers include:

• Dr Alan Finkel AO, Chief Scientist;
• The Hon. Lily D’Ambrosio, Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change and Minister for Solar Homes for Victoria; and
• The Hon. Matt Kean, Minister for Energy and Environment for New South Wales.

The National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC) has finalised the largest social bond – at $562 million – by an Australian issuer.

The funds raised from the NHFIC bond will support ten community housing providers (CHPs) across NSW, SA, Tasmania and Victoria, financing 2,736 properties including 775 new dwellings.
The third NHFIC bond will pass on the benefits of strong investor demand by providing a fixed rate of 2.06 per cent for 12-year interest only loans to the CHPs, which provide subsidised housing.
In total, the bond is anticipated to save the participating CHPs more than $80m in interest payments over next 12 years.
The first loan to a Tasmanian CHP forms part of the latest bond, with Housing Choices Tasmania to use the funding for 192 existing and new social and affordable homes.

Full media release here