Category Archives: News

Access Housing Australia Ltd and Housing Choices Australia Ltd join forces

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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.

National summit: Energy efficiency and Australia’s economic recovery

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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:

NHFIC finalises largest social bond from an Australian Issuer

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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

CHIA joins the call for a smart housing installation boom (National Low Income Energy Productivity Program)

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Over 50 social, property, business, environment, local councils and research groups have banded together to call on Federal and State Governments to stimulate the economy with an energy efficient and solar, low-income housing installation boom.

Doing so would create tens of thousands of shovel ready jobs, cut energy bills for people on low incomes who will spend back into the economy, and reduce carbon emissions.

The call comes after the Federal Government’s Housing stimulus proposal failed to include measures for people most in need, instead focusing on high income earners undertaking expensive renovation without any related social or environmental benefits.

For the full media release, click here

For the The National Low Income Energy Productivity Program (NLEPP) proposal, click here

Housing, the economy & productivity- online talk (updated with slides)

News No Comments

CHIA, National Shelter & Homelessness Australia will present an online talk next Weds 17 June at 1pm. This will explore the recent work on SHARP, including the recent SGS modelling, as well as the work of the Housing & Productivity Consortium. Presenters include Terry Rawnsley (SGS Economics & Planning), Prof Bill Randolph (CityFutures) and special guest Prof Duncan McLennan (University of Glasgow)

Click here for more information and to register.

UPDATE:

We would like to thank all presenters and slides from this session can be accessed here:

–What is SHARP?

– Why invest in Social Housing as a Recovery Stimulus Package – Modelling the Economic and Job Outcomes

– Changing the housing narrative – the HPRC and its planned program

-The Housing & Productivity Research Consortium – The first project

The Zoom recording is here and the password is 3q!u7?F.

CHIA: Covid-19 surveys

Covid-19 News Member news News No Comments

CHIA has launched monthly surveys to understand the trends and emerging issues for the community housing industry as it responds to the COVID-19 crisis.

The first of the monthly surveys is now open until midnight on Friday, 12 June. The survey was piloted with several organisations both large and small before release. Responses will inform the national industry picture and CHIA’s advocacy priorities.

The survey is designed to be completed once for the whole organisation/ group of companies by a senior executive. CHIA has emailed details to CEOs.

MEDIA RELEASE: Building the Recovery

Federal Member news News No Comments

Building the Recovery: investment in social housing will create thousands of jobs and improve social outcomes

New modelling released today by the Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA) and National Shelter demonstrates how investing in a four-year social house building program of 30,000 homes will create on average up to 18,000 full-time equivalent jobs each year.

Wendy Hayhurst, CEO at CHIA said, “The Social Housing Acceleration and Renovation Program (SHARP) will not just deliver great quality homes to those in need but also secure great jobs for thousands of Australians. SHARP’s main benefit will fall where the job losses have been greatest in Sydney and Melbourne but will also create jobs all over Australia in regions and towns.

“With the period 2021-22 earmarked as an anticipated economic weak point, SHARP will create up to 24,500 jobs both on-site and in the wider building services industry. The Federal Government has stated that we have to maintain a laser-like focus on jobs to get Australia moving and this new modelling shows that SHARP does just that,” says Ms Hayhurst.

To read the full media release click here

For the full report click here

One year on – CHL making progress on its Reconciliation journey

Federal Member news News No Comments

Australia’s largest not-for-profit community housing provider, Community Housing Limited (CHL), is commemorating the one-year anniversary of their REFLECT Reconciliation Action Plan at the start of the National Reconciliation Week 2020.

CHL has not only been providing affordable housing to vulnerable and at-risk groups across the nation for the last 26 years but has been committed towards enabling Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to determine their own housing future and live in accordance with cultural values and customs through Aboriginal Community Housing Limited (ACHL).

With this long-term commitment at the forefront of the organisation, CHL has spent the past twelve months providing Aboriginal cultural awareness training to staff, reviewing current practices, policies, service delivery and procurement of services and making appropriate changes to them.

For the full media release, click here

Building the Recovery: Call for an investment in social housing

Federal Member news News No Comments

Building the Recovery: Investment in social housing will create jobs and improve social outcomes during the pandemic

Today, national housing and homelessness leaders have called for an immediate employment-boosting investment to expand Australia’s social housing by 30,000 homes as the country experiences a wave of job losses due to COVID-19.

National peak bodies, the Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA), Homelessness Australia, National Shelter, and the national housing campaign, Everybody’s Home have outlined a process with four overlapping waves to deliver urgently needed high quality housing within three years.

For the full media release, click here

For the SHARP summary, click here

For the full SHARP report, click here

Joint letter to Prime Minister & NSW Premier

Covid-19 News Federal Member news News No Comments

CHIA participated with the following organisations to write to the Prime Minister and NSW Premier in support of a number of essential initiatives aimed at boosting social and affordable housing in the post Covid-19 recovery phase.

These organisations include: Australian Institute of Architects, the Centre for Social Impact, the Community Housing Industry Association, the Community Housing Industry Association NSW, the Constellation Project, Homelessness NSW, National Shelter, the Planning Institute of Australia, Shelter NSW, the UNSW City Futures Research Centre and the Women’s Community Shelters.

The full letter can be viewed here.

Open letter to PM calls for investment in social housing

Federal Member news News No Comments

83 Australian organisations have made an open letter appeal to PM for in investment in social housing.
In the shadow of this year’s Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) statement and growing pressure on the Federal Government to use fiscal levers to support the economy, the community, housing and homelessness groups are calling for a big investment in social housing construction.

To read the full media release please click here

To read the full open letter please click here

 

SA community housing provider awarded first capacity building grant

Member news News No Comments

The National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC) has awarded the first grant from its new Capacity Building Program to Westside Housing, a South Australian-based registered community housing provider (CHP).

Westside Housing provides homes to those at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness across metro-Adelaide and into the Adelaide Hills. They will use the $20,000 grant for business advisory services as a first step to strengthening their operations and enabling them to expand their housing offering to people in need.

More info in the full release here

COMMUNITY HOUSING LTD APPOINTS NEW COUNTRY MANAGER

Member news News No Comments

Australia’s largest not-for-profit social and affordable housing provider, Community Housing Limited (CHL) has appointed Dr Lucy Burgmann into the organisation’s newly established leadership role of Country Manager.

Heading the CHL NSW State operations since 2016, Dr Lucy Burgmann was at the forefront of leading one of the company’s largest growth initiatives which expanded the state’s portfolio by more than double in a year.

Dr Burgmann, who has over two decades of experience working across the community, public and private sectors in various senior leadership roles, said she looks forward to the new challenge, particularly at a time where there are many exciting opportunities to transform and grow the organisation’s portfolio to meet housing demand.

“CHL is filled with great people who are dedicated to driving innovation and who are motivated to provide safe, secure and long-term affordable housing to those in need. I am excited to be part of a team who have the ability to think creatively to support our communities by delivering innovative housing options.

“My vision for the new role is to use my experience to expand and strengthen CHL’s services to its customers and to ensure the organisation’s growth is sustained through strategic partnerships.  I will be particularly focused on newer models of housing options and opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through the newly created Aboriginal Community Housing Limited (ACHL)”, said Lucy.

CHL Managing Director Steve Bevington said the new position will primarily lead the state teams in seamless delivery of services to customers as well drive forward the company’s strategic objectives in line with the Group’s business plan.

“Lucy is an accomplished housing professional and will bring great value to the organisation in the new position. She is highly regarded by her peers both within the organisation and the sector more broadly which is a strong testament to her credentials.

“She has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities the sector presents and has strong connection to the housing industry which will be critical as she supports the organisation’s vision and strategy to deliver new and innovative affordable housing solutions to more Australians”, Steve said.

Dr Burgmann commences her new position this week. She can be contacted via email at [email protected].

 

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