Community housing comprises a diverse range of affordable housing options to low-medium income tenants. As the name implies, the aim of community housing is to provide a sustainable tenant community, and to “increase social capital by encouraging local communities to take a more active role in providing affordable housing” (Steering Committee Report p16). This is achieved in part through providing quality stock, tenancy support, tenancy consultation and involvement, and long-term stability.
Community housing is rapidly growing in Tasmania under the State’s Better Housing Futures program. The legal title of most Community housing stock remains with Housing Tasmania, but properties are leased and managed by not-for-profit agencies that provide both property management and tenancy support. In Tasmania around 100 different community housing organisations provide 4,500 homes (DHHS “Community Housing”). The regional breakdown of community housing is almost identical to that of public housing (above) (Steering Committee, Report Table 16.2).
Under the National Affordable Housing Agreement (NAHA) and the National Building Economic Stimulus—Social Housing Initiative the Tasmanian Government has now transferred 4,000 public housing stock to community housing providers. This equates to approximately one third of Housing Tasmania’s stock (DHHS “Better Housing Futures”).
National Regulatory System of Community Housing
The new National Regulatory System for Community Housing (NRSCH) commenced in Tasmania in January 2014. For information, go to the NRS website.