Not for profit community housing provider Compass Housing Services (Compass) today takes over the management of more than 1,000 social housing properties in the Hunter promising improved services and support for tenants.

The change is part of the NSW Government’s Social Housing Management Transfer which sees 14,000 tenancies currently managed by the Department of Family and Community Services (FACS) transferred to a number of community housing providers following a tender process. Compass will also facilitate temporary accommodation for local people experiencing homelessness and provide private rental assistance to those in housing stress.

Under the initiative Compass has obtained 1,825 properties to manage in NSW including 665 in Cessnock, 384 in Singleton, and 27 in Dungog. The remainder are on the mid North Coast. This takes Compass’ portfolio to more than 6,200 dwellings, making it one of the largest community housing providers in the southern hemisphere.

Compass’ Group Chief Operating Officer Lisa Tierney said as well as industry leading tenancy and property management, tenants in Taree will benefit from a range of Compass community development programs.

“At Compass we believe community housing is about more than just providing accommodation, it’s also about building community,” Ms Tierney said.

“That’s why we offer a range of programs that help tenants achieve better social and economic participation and foster a sense of belonging and connection to their homes and their communities,’ she said.

“The transition of tenants has gone very smoothly with 100 per cent of tenants agreeing to transfer.

“We’re excited to be able to extend our offering to our new tenants and look forward to having them as part of the Compass community.”

Currently around 19 per cent of NSW’s 144,000 social housing dwellings are managed by the not-for-profit sector. That figure will rise to 32 per cent under the Social Housing Management Transfer program.