Swinburne University is calling on Frontline workers who support people with a history of homelessness to participate in a research study that aims to learn more about their knowledge of brain injury.
Frontline workers includes supportive housing workers, case managers, counsellors who work with homeless clients, workers in the specialist homelessness services and others.
Study participants will be asked to complete a survey that is expected to take 15 to 20 minutes.
The Commonwealth Government’s Volunteer Grants round closes at 2:00 pm on 18 September 2018.Volunteer Grants aim to support the efforts of Australia’s volunteers by:
-providing small amounts of money that organisations and community groups can use to help their volunteers
-forming part of the Government’s work to support the volunteers who help disadvantaged Australian communities and encourage inclusion of vulnerable people in community life.
See the Funding Round Application page for details.
Anglicare plans to expand its redevelopment of the Steelworks Hotel in Port Kembla to provide additional affordable rental housing.
The welfare agency already has permission to turn the heritage-listed pub into a 22-bed residence for older people at risk of homelessness but is seeking to add an additional seven self-contained rooms in a separate building, following the acquisition of adjacent land.
The project is part of the organisation’s efforts to cater for the increasing number of people at risk of becoming homeless as they age.
Anglicare’s development manager Dean Cotter says, ‘We are committed to enriching and strengthening local communities through the provision of integrated accommodation, care and support services that are sensitive to cultural, financial and social needs of the people who will live in our homes.
‘The new proposal will allow Anglicare to assist 30 people primarily aged over 60 who are struggling to live on low incomes.
‘The project will be providing support services to rental tenants that foster independence and enable them to feel a part of their local community…and build meaningful relationships with others living with and around them.
The design for the pub will deliver 22 bed-sitter style rooms with private bathrooms and kitchenettes over two levels, with a lift included.
Construction of the first set of dwellings is expected to be completed in mid 2019.
Anglicare has opened a supported youth accommodation facility in Devonport to support young people as they move into adulthood.
Eveline House features 25 units, five of them purpose-built for people with a disability. Each tenant has a self-contained unit with access to a laundry, gym, common areas, outdoor spaces and a games room.
Anglicare CEO Chris Jones says the complex is a much-needed response to youth
homelessness in Tasmania.
‘Eveline House provides tenants with safe, affordable housing, as well as opportunities to participate in community activities, education, employment and training. It is a vibrant place where young people are encouraged to build on their existing strengths and capabilities.’
Anglicare manages similar facilities in Launceston (Thyne House) and Hobart (Trinity Hill).
Tenancies at Eveline House are for young people aged 16-24 years who are on a low income and eligible for social housing. The general tenancies at Eveline House are already full and two of the purpose-built units are occupied, with talks underway with the National Disability Insurance Scheme about the final three places.
Earlier this year, Anglicare’s Rental Affordability Snapshot showed that for young people receiving Youth Allowance, there were no affordable rental options anywhere in Tasmania.
‘No Tasmanian should have to worry about where they’ll sleep that night or how they’ll afford to eat,’ Dr Jones says.
‘Long term, affordable housing is foundational for people to fully participate in education, training and employment’.
Anglicare manages similar facilities in Launceston (Thyne House) and Hobart (Trinity Hill) and Dr Jones says Eveline House was made possible with the support of the Tasmanian Government and many advocates in Tasmania’s North West.
‘I look forward to seeing how the young people who live here will use their strengths and skills to contribute to this community.’
Community housing provider Homes North has opened its second affordable housing complex in Armidale to assist those experiencing housing stress.
The 2016 Census reported 14 per cent of Armidale households were experiencing housing stress (paying more than 30 per cent of their income in rent to keep a roof over their heads). The new Homes North five villa complex not only provides much needed affordable rental housing, it also provides access to housing for people with mobility challenges as the development meets the highest ‘liveable design standards’.
The complex has two and three-bedroom homes to offer a range of options for single people, couples and families looking for affordable rentals.
Homes North’s CEO Maree McKenzie says, ‘we are proud to make this new complex available in Armidale to those who need it in our community. The quality of design and build allows our households to live in dignity without breaking the bank. The build reduces power costs, and we ensure residents don’t pay more than 30 per cent of their income in rent. All in all, residents can live a better quality of life because of the reduced financial stress – knowing they can afford other basic living costs such as clothing, medical care and education.’
Homes North Asset Manager and construction partners, Hibbards Homes, ensured a quality build, Ms McKenzie says.
‘One resident says that her family is delighted to be in the new complex saying, “We love it here and it is so warm, we have hardly needed to use our heater this winter.”’
A new report has revealed the shocking gap between the incomes of typical renting households and the incomes required to avoid housing stress in Australia’s three most populated states.
Compass Housing’s Affordable Housing Income Gap Report, takes a new approach to the measurement of housing affordability for renters. The Report establishes the amount of additional income required to avoid housing stress on various types of rental properties in more than 300 suburbs, towns and local government areas across New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. This amount is referred to as the Affordable Housing Income Gap (AHIG).
Compass spokesperson Martin Kennedy said in many cases the median incomes of renting households were tens of thousands of dollars per year below the level required to secure a basic two-bedroom apartment without experiencing housing stress. The situation for renters seeking a 3-bedroom house is worse, with median incomes up to $100,000 per year short of the level required to avoid housing stress in certain areas.
| Annual income to afford a 3br house | Amount above annual median income (AHIG) | Annual income to afford a 2br unit | Annual amount above median income (AHIG) | |
| Inner Sydney | $172,467 | $78,139 | $121,333 | $27,005 |
| Inner Melbourne | $130,000 | $50,336 | $93,600 | $13,936 |
| Inner Brisbane | $94,987 | $17,299 | $83,200 | $5,512 |
Housing stress is experienced by households with incomes up to 120% of the median that are paying more than 30% of their income on housing costs.
Mr Kennedy said the Report proved housing stress isn’t just a problem for low-income households. He said working families with average incomes are struggling to afford suitable rental properties close to where they work.
“To avoid housing stress in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, a typical renting household often has to choose between living a considerable distance from the city or living in a one-bedroom apartment,” Mr Kennedy said.
“Neither of those things are practical for lots of families so they are effectively forced to accept living in housing stress. This can have a real impact on living standards because people in housing stress are less able to pay for other essentials like food, utilities, insurance, healthcare, childcare, and debt repayments.”
Mr Kennedy said that even in regional towns, where prices are nominally cheaper, comparatively lower household incomes mean renters in many areas still face significant affordability income gaps. The impact is particularly severe in “commuter belt” cities close to the capitals.
“The steady decline of housing affordability for renters is part of a broader housing crisis driven by a combination of low interest rates, preferential tax treatment for investors, rapid population growth, artificial rationing of land supply, high transfer duties, and a prolonged failure to invest in social and affordable housing.”
The Report recommends the creation of a national housing plan with initiatives crossing all levels of government. They include:
Link Housing is making the move into bigger office space in light of its success in securing public housing transfers.
Link Housing CEO Andrew McAnulty has led the organisation through a period of significant growth.
Last year the organisation won tenders to manage 235 specialist disability accommodation tenancies and almost 1900 social housing tenancies, which had previously been managed by the NSW Government.
‘It is a very exciting period of growth for us. By the end of the year, we would have more
than doubled our number of staff, properties under management and clients, largely due to
the Social Housing Management Transfers (SHMT) program,’ Mr McAnulty says.
‘There was no doubt we needed more space.’
Link has recently opened a new office in West Ryde and will unveil new larger office facilities in Chatswood on September 17.
The new offices will give the not-for-profit organisation the space to continue to provide
quality, client-focused and comprehensive services to their growing community of housing
applicants and residents within Northern Sydney and beyond.
The West Ryde office is located minutes from West Ryde train station and in the same building as the NSW Government’s Families and Community Services (FACS) Northern district office, allowing Link Housing to work closely with FACS in the lead up to the SHMT ‘go live’ in December this year.
‘This is a positive change for our clients. With offices that are easier to get to and with more
space and facilities, we will be able to meet and help more people. Our expansion and new
offices is really just about taking steps to fulfil our mission and vision of enhancing lives
through community housing,’ Mr McAnulty says.
Deputy CEO of Launch Housing and CHIA Vic Board Member Dr Heather Holst has been appointed as Victoria’s inaugural Commissioner for Residential Tenancies.
CHIA Vic CEO Lesley Dredge says Dr Holst is a ‘brilliant’ choice for the position.
‘Heather has worked in the housing, homelessness and tenancy sectors since 1989. With her experience of the sector stretching from the coal face of being a frontline worker through to senior executive and board roles, she will bring invaluable knowledge and skills to this new role.’
‘Victorian tenants will have a committed and diligent advocate,’ Ms Dredge says.
As Commissioner for Residential Tenancies, Dr Holst will work closely with stakeholders across the rental sector to identify systemic issues and make recommendations to government.
Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation Marlene Kairouz says, ‘Dr Heather Holst has long been an advocate for housing rights and I congratulate her on her appointment.’
The Community Housing Industry Association has backed the objectives of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Making Sure Foreign Investors Pay Their Fair Share of Tax and Other Measures) Bill 2018.
In a submission supporting the amendment, CHIA contends that the main benefit of the housing-related measures in the Bill will be to facilitate institutional investment in long-term residential rental housing.
The bill will limit access to tax concessions for foreign investors, and provide incentives for investors to increase the supply of affordable housing, including by offering individuals the opportunity to invest in residential property via Managed Investment Trusts rather than by becoming a landlord.
You can download the submission here.
The Victorian Government’s moves to work in partnership with the community housing industry through a new Victorian Social Housing Growth Fund and Low Cost Loans initiative has been welcomed by the industry’s state peak body.
The Community Housing Industry Association Victoria’s (CHIA Vic) CEO Lesley Dredge says, with the waiting list for social housing in Victoria sitting at 42,162 households, action on creating more affordable housing supply is urgently needed and the government’s moves to increase the impact of the community housing sector via the growth funds and low-cost loans, are significant.
To resolve unmet housing need by 2051, factoring in population growth, Victoria must add another 3,000 social housing properties each year to house our most disadvantaged, plus another 3,000 affordable rental properties each year for low income households facing housing stress.
When the government’s $1b Social Housing Growth Fund is fully operational it will provide about $60 million annually, with the aim of adding only 2,200 social housing places over five years, an important step forward, Ms Dredge says.
‘The $1bn fund is the first time there has been a long-term, ongoing commitment to produce an income stream to be used for social housing in Victoria,’ Ms Dredge says.
‘We are hopeful that once this architecture is embedded, more funding will be allocated by subsequent governments; enabling community housing organisations to leverage the funds and plug the gap between the cost of delivering new social housing and the rents they are able to charge their low income tenants.’
The Low Cost Loans initiative for community housing organisations is also a step in the right direction, Ms Dredge says.
‘Making loans more affordable will assist some community housing organisations to leverage funds to be used to house more Victorians in need,’ Ms Dredge says.
Click here for details on the Victorian Social Housing Growth Fund and the low interest loans and guarantees.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYaJKKU34aM&t=7s
A high-level gathering of planners, designers and architects from around the world has been given insight into the possible development of Melbourne from the perspective of a community organisation and its tenants.
Melbourne-based Housing Choices residents and property team members created a video on their views on Melbourne’s future for the 2018 Living Cities Forum. The forum tackles a number of big questions around architecture and issues facing Melbourne and global cities.
Housing Choices’ video provided a unique opportunity for community housing organisations and tenants to reach the people who ultimately plan, design and build the cities and suburbs we live in.
Bridge Housing’s new A Bridge to Work employment initiative with partners CoAct is already putting residents into jobs.
Cholok is a Bridge Housing tenant who joined the Bridge to Work program in July 2018. She had recently migrated to Australia from Sudan and was looking to find part time employment.
After consultation and review of her work history, we decided to approach an employer with whom she had previously worked on a contract basis. She successfully negotiated another three-month contract with LUSH Cosmetics, working in the production warehouse with an option to extend to six months.
She is very happy to have found employment with them again and we hope to help her secure a permanent role as we support her in her contract.
Cholok is very personable and diligent in her work and is looking to possibly become a supervisor during her new placement as she brings with her experience and expertise from her role last year. Cholok has great potential, and with ongoing coaching and mentoring through her contract, we are hopeful that LUSH will provide her with a permanent position.
-courtesy of Bridge Housing