What is Community Housing?

Community Housing is the provision of affordable housing to lower and moderate income groups by non-government, not-for-profit organisations.

The Advantages of Community Housing

A Proven Model

International studies have shown that growing the community housing sector is a successful way of increasing the supply of low-cost housing stock. Over the last few decades many countries, including Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA, have increased the size of their community housing sectors.

Better Value for Money

Unlike state and public housing organisations the community housing sector can access funding from a range of private and public resources. It has the capacity to borrow against the properties it owns and is well-placed to attract support from other partners.

For example, in Australia, for every dollar spent by the government, housing agencies attract an extra 25 to 30 percent from private, philanthropic and local government sources.

Community housing organisations can also utilise volunteers and operate with a minimum of bureaucracy.

This means the sector can house people more cheaply and provide better value for money.

Flexible

The sector is not confined to property for rent. A number of affordable housing schemes, including home equity, rent to buy and shared homeownership, can also be provided.

The sector can also address specialised housing needs or work closely with organisations that do.

Independent

The sector is less subject to political influence than either state or local authority owned housing providers.

Community Orientated

Organisations in the sector are either community-driven or work closely with communities. They have a greater chance of identifying the needs of specific communities and working with them to find appropriate solutions.

The community housing model is more inclusive than private or public sector models and places greater importance on tenant participation.

As well as the provision of housing the sector can also engage in activities that generate social and economic capital. These include brokering more effective access to community services, supporting social and economic participation by tenants, and supporting local economic initiatives.

Social

The sector can reduce the stigma attached to private renting and social housing provision.

Better Outcomes for Tenants

Overseas research shows that community housing organisations achieve better outcomes for tenants. This is due to a number of factors including the provision and facilitation of support services that enable tenants to sustain successful tenancies.