Projects

Funding for housing assistance

Between March and June 2011 National Shelter held a series of round table discussions with key stakeholders in housing assistance and homelessness to encourage early engagement on the development of the next National Affordable Housing Agreement (NAHA). Five critical messages emerged from this consultation process: key affordable housing stakeholders are highly engaged with the potential of the next NAHA; there was widespread support for twin funding streams of per dwelling operational subsidy and per a capita growth fund, to balance the interests of states and to allow for good management of systems and maintenance of stock as well as net growth in housing assistance; there is a need for flexibility to create financially and socially sustainable housing assistance systems that deliver housing assistance that suits local needs; there should be a strong focus on improving housing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders across Australia, including through a National Partnership Agreement on urban Indigenous housing; and agendas related to housing through parallel processes, such as planning and taxation, need to be addressed.

• 'Towards NAHA Mark II: National Shelter dialogue ahead of the next National Affordable Housing Agreement and associated National Partnership Agreements', July 2011: download (pdf ~740 kb)

Marginal tenures

Boarding houses and caravan parks often serve as ‘housing of last resort’ for residents – the 75,000 Australians who live in them are mostly highly disadvantaged, and are often on the verge of homelessness. National Shelter has issued a policy paper on marginal tenures and their often highly vulnerable residents. The report surveys trends in supply, and analyses critical regulation issues such as tenancy protection, health and safety standards, and the licensing of operators. The report also presents a set of recommendations, to provide a starting point for discussions with Commonwealth and state/territory governments about improving supply and the housing circumstances of residents.

• 'Marginal tenures – a national picture', February 2011: download (pdf ~418 kb)

Taxation and housing

The Henry review on Australia’s future tax system recommends fundamental shifts in the way housing and land, renting and owning are treated by the taxation and transfer systems. National Shelter prepared a report in December 2010 on issues for housing policy which emerged from the Henry review, and their June 2011 report outlines a set of recommendations in response to the Henry review.

• 'Issues from the Henry report on Australia’s future tax system for housing policy', December 2010: download (pdf ~759 kb)
• 'Australia’s future tax system: balancing our taxes to remove distortions in our housing system', June 2011: download (pdf ~396 kb)

Aboriginal housing

Representatives from Aboriginal and mainstream housing organisations and peak bodies met in Brisbane, in July 2010, under the auspices of National Shelter, to discuss a range of housing issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and to develop possible solutions. Following this roundtable we released a policy statement, 'A way forward for housing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia', which calls for an urgent injection of resources to address the housing needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

• 'A way forward for housing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia', August 2010: download (pdf ~245 kb)
• 'Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander housing round table report', 17 and 18 May 2011: download (pdf ~571 kb)

Tenancy legislation

We commissioned the National Association of Tenant Organisations to undertake a review of tenancy protections in the various state/territory jurisdictions. This project was funded by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. A report, 'A better lease on life', was released in April 2010, and it outlines a reform agenda to improve tenants' rights frameworks across Australia. You can download the report here:

• 'A better lease on life: improving Australian tenancy law', April 2010: download (pdf ~1,860 kb)

Older Australians' housing

We conducted a series of roundtable forums around Australia in early 2009, to identify key housing issues and opportunities facing older Australians. This project was funded by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. We commissioned Roland Naufel of 4C Consulting to do a literature review and facilitate consultative forums. You can download the literature review and the report on the forums here:

• 'Literature review of seniors housing in Australia', January 2009: download (pdf ~390 kb)
• 'Outcomes of the Older persons roundtable forums: key issues and opportunities facing older people and housing in Australia', June 2009: download (pdf ~175 kb)