Community Housing Profile

Who lives in community housing?

Community housing provides a home to approximately over 7,300 people in South Australia, one-third of them children, with over 4,200 dwellings across the State - more if you include a number of properties that are head-leased by housing associations.

Almost 70% of the community housing population reside in housing association dwellings.

Community housing was introduced in Australia in the early 70s- with some of the first occurring in the Bowden/Brompton area. It has grown to over 90,000 homes in Australia.

Community housing provides housing for those most in need of accommodation - including people with an intellectual and physical disability, the aged, struggling families, young people, migrants, women escaping domestic violence and low-income earners. Community housing can also assist people with special needs because of living in rural areas, or because of discrimination in the private housing market due to language, sexuality, gender or culture. Often people housed within a particular group will represent a cross-section of those disadvantaged in the community. This diversity is a strength of the program, because a variety of skills and social backgrounds are necessary in the increasingly complex management and accountability of Community Housing Organisations (CHOs).

About three-quarters (75%) of people living in community housing rely on statutory incomes, such as sickness and disability benefits, for survival. (More than three quarters (77%) have a total household income that is less than 50% of the State's average weekly earnings).

What is community housing?

Community housing is voluntary, non-profit, committed to self-help and community support, aiming at high levels of satisfaction with housing. There are two types of Community Housing Organisations (CHOs) - Housing Associations and Housing Co-operatives.

Housing Associations

Housing Associations are primarily managed by community volunteers on behalf of disadvantaged tenants. Though some of the larger Associations, in addition have a paid (full or part-time) property/housing manager. These volunteers are recruited due to expertise in accounting, law, housing or property management. The members of the management committee of a housing association are often drawn from people who work with or who have family members with special needs - and while they learn through their involvement, many simply just want to "put something back".

Associations are often sponsored by community agencies or groups that help them operate, ie provision of funding for paid workers . Some examples of agencies which sponsor Housing Associations include the Salvation Army, the Adelaide Central Mission, Intellectual Disability Services Council, and the Anglican Church.

Housing Association tenants are typically on low incomes, or have special needs through disability, age language or personal circumstances. Associations partner with government and community agencies that provide services that may be required to maintain independent living.

There are currently 50 Housing Associations registered with the Office for Comjmunity Housing (formerly SACHA) with more than 2,900 properties throughout South Australia. Housing Associations are particularly well placed to house people with special needs because they have the flexibility to provide appropriate housing and where possible the support to go with the housing. Housing Associations have a management structure, which brings people together with expertise in housing, and expertise in working with the particular needs group being targeted.

Housing Co-operatives

There are 69 registered Housing Co-operatives around the State provide this form of housing, and together they manage a total of just over 1,200 properties.

Housing Co-operatives are tenant-managed. As managers, tenants' skills are developed through unpaid work in the co-op (these skills often carried through to improved employment prospects). Members work together to buy, build, maintain and manage their housing.

Housing Co-operatives also provide some support for their members in a number of ways eg. support for the aged or disabled. Co-op tenants are typically on low incomes. Housing Co-operatives are voluntary, non-profit organisations that combine some benefits of home ownership with the accountability required of public housing. Co-op members take responsibility and pride in their homes.

Benefits of Community Housing

It can be argued, community housing has a number of potential advantages over traditional public housing tenure, including:

• increased flexibility in meeting housing needs
• increased flexibility in asset management
• long term secure housing
• empowerment of tenants and development of a community focus
• drawing in the support of agencies which already provide for those in need and are already assisting in addressing these needs
• cost effective housing support
• friendship and assistance within a community environment
• skill development often leading to reduced reliance on government benefits
• opportunities to contribute to the community
  
  

Responsive and flexible

Housing Associations and Housing Co-ops are small community based groups, and are therefore in a position to be more responsive to individuals with high needs and can link quickly to support agencies to ensure tenants can be appropriately housed and stay in their home.

These housing options are made possible through the strong partnership between the community and the Government. This partnership approach, when applied well, can reduce government costs and build community and individual involvement - and therefore responsibility.

Groups also work with private businesses, churches and other groups such as local councils to make the best use of the resources available - such as through Joint Ventures. To date, Housing Associations have been more able to make the most of these opportunities.

Community Housing contributes a strong social benefit to the State

Community Housing Organisations and their tenants are committed to contributing their fair share of hard work to make sure houses are maintained, rents are collected and that families whatever their size and shape - have a home that is safe, secure, affordable and appropriate. Tenants, if they are able, are encouraged to help run the non-profit organisations that house them. This tenant involvement in community housing reduces reliance on welfare agencies, through a sense of self-help and community support. In the majority of Community Housing Organisations namely, Housing Co-operatives, tenant participation is a condition of membership.


Community Housing helps prevent social problems

CHOs are tailored to meet specific needs - and will seek to maintain services and advocate for increased services based on tenant demand. This has resulted in a deliberate linking into services that will best serve the needs of members and tenants. This means community housing can deliver a range of benefits above and beyond shelter such as:

• making people more job and training ready through the development of social, management, literacy, numeracy and communication skills
• preventing or reducing dependence on health and social service agencies through linking support provided through the housing model
• better health and educational outcomes for children by providing stable and secure housing
  

Community Housing provides homes, develops people skills and creates supportive communities.