Home in Place complex in NSW

Community Housing

What is Community Housing?

Social housing is made up of two types of housing, government public housing and community housing which is managed by not-for-profit agencies such as Home in Place.

Community housing is subsidised rental housing provided by not-for-profit, non-government organisations and is targeted at households on low incomes or who would otherwise struggle to find suitable accommodation.

At Home in Place, we believe community housing is about much more than providing accommodation. It’s also about building communities which is why we’re dedicated to making sure our tenants have a voice and are actively engaged in their communities.

In addition to professional tenancy management, Home in Place continues to be an industry leader in the provision of additional wraparound services that help sustain tenancies and delivering tenant engagement initiatives that help foster greater economic and social participation.

Information for NSW Applicants

Social/community housing is available to people on low incomes who cannot afford to own or rent in the private market.

In NSW, Home in Place participates in Housing Pathways, a shared access system used by public and community housing providers together, to assess clients for housing assistance and to make offers of housing.

This shared system avoids the duplication of separate waiting lists, and makes it easier, simpler and fairer to apply for housing.

Applying for Social Housing in NSW

  • The general eligibility criteria for social housing in NSW include:

    1. You must be 18 years of age
    2. You must be a citizen or permanent resident of Australia
    3. You must be a current resident of NSW
    4. You need to meet the gross income threshold based on your household.

    The NSW Department of Communities and Justice Social Housing Eligibility and Allocations Policy Supplement provides information on how social housing is delivered and who is eligible for assistance.

  • There are several ways you can apply for social housing in NSW:

    1. Online via the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) Housing pathways website HERE
    2. In person via your nearest housing provider. Find a list of housing providers near you HERE
    3. Using the NSW Government’s MyHousing app. You can download the MyHousing app to your smart phone from the Apple App Store on on Google Play.
  • The NSW Department of Communities and Justice has a filterable, interactive dashboard which provides general housing applicants, information on how long they may need to wait for a social housing property in areas across NSW HERE.

    You can filter by Allocation Zone – if you know it – or by suburb.

Information for Queensland Applicants

In Queensland, Home in Place offers transitional (short-term) and long-term housing under various government programs.

Transitional Housing

Transitional housing is a form of social housing offered by community housing providers. It offers accommodation to people on the housing register with an urgent need for housing.

Transitional housing is not long-term housing. The purpose of transitional housing is to help tenants stabilise their circumstances so that they can move on to more appropriate long-term accommodation. This may be in the private market or social housing.

If you accept a transitional housing offer from Home in Place, you will be required to enter into a tenancy agreement with us.

As part of your agreement, we will help develop a tenancy plan with you to assist you to access suitable long-term housing – this may be in long-term community housing or transition to the private rental market. This tenancy plan will also help to identify housing options that are available to you based on your housing needs and circumstances.

Transitional Housing Programs

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  • The Community Rent Scheme is a transitional housing program and offers a housing option for up to 18 months, while you build your capacity to enter back into the private rental market.

    The Department of Housing and Public Works has funded Home in Place to rent privately owned properties to be leased to those who are eligible for 25% of the household income plus rent assistance.

    Requirements

    The Community Rent Scheme is not a long-term housing option and, during in your tenancy, Home in Place will complete a tenancy plan with you. The plan will assist you to identify what goals you need to achieve to move into the private rental market.

    To remain eligible for the program your must ensure that you application for housing is kept up to date and valid with the Queensland Government, who will conduct regular eligibility assessments with you.

    For more information please go to the Apply for Housing section on the QLD Government website HERE.

  • The CMSU program is also a transitional housing program and offers a housing option for up to 18 months, while you build your capacity to enter back into the private rental market.

    The Community Managed Studio Units Program offers a studio unit that is furnished and leased to tenants at 28% of there household income plus rent assistance.

    Requirements

    The Community Managed Studio Units Program is not a long-term housing option and, during in your tenancy, Home in Place will complete a tenancy plan with you. The plan will assist you to identify what goals you need to achieve to move into the private rental market.

    To remain eligible for the program your must ensure that you application for housing is kept up to date and valid with the Queensland Government, who will conduct regular eligibility assessments with you.

    For more information please go to the Apply for Housing section on the QLD Government website HERE.

QLD Long-Term Community Housing

If you are offered long-term community housing, Home in Place will need to assess your ongoing eligibility each year.

This assessment is based on ongoing eligibility criteria, which means we review:

  • Your household income: The combined gross income of your household (including spouses and other occupants) must not exceed $80,000 per annum;
  • Property ownership: No member of your household can own or partly own a property within Australia or overseas;
  • Your match to the property: Whether your housing is unsuitable to your current need (such as under-occupancy), which can lead to transfer to more appropriate accommodation; and
  • Antisocial behaviour: Whether there has been frequent and persistent antisocial behaviour (tenants are responsible for the behaviour of all occupants and guests).

If you are no longer eligible for ongoing long-term community housing, we will assist you with transitioning to the private rental market.

Applying for Social Housing in Queensland

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  • Eligibility for transitional and long-term community housing is determined by Queensland Department of Housing and Public Works.

    The department is responsible for ensuring Community Housing is provided to tenants with the greatest need.

    You can check your eligibility on the Queensland Government website HERE.

  • As a community housing provider, Home in Place does not assess your application for housing assistance in Queensland.

    You will need to contact your local Department of Housing and Public Works Housing Service Centre to arrange an interview to discuss your eligibility and housing needs.

    A list of the Housing Service centres can be found HERE.

    For more information, go to the Applying for Public Housing section on the Queensland Government HERE.

  • If you are eligible for social housing in Queensland, your application is placed on the Housing Register.

    Social housing properties are in demand and are offered to people with the highest need.

    Housing offers are impacted by:

    • the number of properties in the area you want to live in
    • the number of properties that become available
    • your circumstances and match to the available property
    • the number of people who have the same housing need in the same area as you

    More information on social housing applications, assessments and offers can be found on the Queensland government website HERE.

Want to learn more about community housing?

If you need more information about community housing reach out to our team.

Contact Us

Frequently asked questions

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  • Affordable housing is open to a broader range of household incomes than social housing which requires stricter criteria before it can be accessed.

    Affordable housing is managed much like private rental properties however involves specific eligibility criteria, in general most affordable housing mangers are not for profit community housing providers.

    Learn more at www.facs.nsw.gov.au

  • Community housing providers are organisations that provide housing for people with very low, low or moderate incomes or people with specific additional needs such as disabilities or difficult circumstances.

    Community housing providers should be registered with the national regulatory body and meet the requirements of the national regulatory system for community housing.

  • There are number of types of community housing however the two main types of housing provided are:

    • General social housing in the form of long term housing services in addition to specialist support services from community organisations
    • Specialist homelessness services focusing on short term crisis accommodation or transitional housing
  • Typically if an individual or their partner owns or has shares in property that could be a suitable alternative to social housing they will not be eligible for social housing.

    This is assessed on whether or not they are able to either live in the property or sell their equity in the property.

  • Specific waiting list times for social housing are dependant on a number of factors, including whether the applicant is a general or priority applicant and the amount of applicants in that specific allocation zone.

    You can review the expected waiting times for your specific allocation zone by using the www.facs.nsw.gov.au expected waiting times tool to look up your allocation zone.

  • Tenants in social housing pay rent as they would in the private rental market, however at a much lower rate. The rate charged can differ depending on the specific case of the tenant.

    Community housing organisations like Home In Place can access government grants and funding to provide more services and increased access to housing supply through development and headleasing programs.

    For more information see the Department of Communities & Justice rent policy page.

  • It is the tenants responsibility to notify the relevant parties within 28 days of any changes in their household, this includes:

    • the number of people in the home
    • anyone staying regularly in the home
    • changes to household income
    • if anyone in the household is self employed or running their own business
    • any assets including savings, shares, dividends the household owns
    • any property ownership or inheritance in the household
    • any lump sum payments received such as workers compensation or insurance

    For more specific information, please review the Affordable Housing Policy document on our policies page.

  • Most community housing providers will have an appeals policy in place allowing you to submit a review or dispute of the decision.

    To review Home in Place’s policies on internal reviews and appeals please see our Appeals Policy located on our policies page.

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