Remaking social housing: reflection on Australian and international experience

1. Remaking social housing: reflection on Australian and international experience Dr Kath Hulse Grad Certificate Residential 2005

2. Remaking social housing: the UK • Focus on home ownership initiatives • Funding for new social housing via housing associations • Large scale voluntary transfers (LSVT) of local government housing to housing associations • Affordable housing through planning regulations (Section 106) – generates 20,000 units pa. • Social housing management: common housing registers, ‘choice based lettings’ and local allocation plans

3. Dwellings by tenure (UK) 1971-2004

4. Overseas experience (Canada) • Focus on home ownership • No new public housing after early 1970s – ‘not for profit’ and cooperative housing • Federal government – tried to get out of the business of social housing (post 1984, 1993) – bilateral social housing agreements; • Some provinces also wanted to do this (esp Ontario); • Homelessness ‘crisis’ – some re-engagement; • Housing supply and affordability ‘crisis’ – bilateral affordable housing agreements

5. Overseas experience (US) Emphasis has been on • home ownership assistance • block grant funding to local municipalities for community development (housing regeneration) • tax credits to encourage supply of affordable housing • housing vouchers ‘Welfare reform’ Housing and mobility

6. Overseas experience (New Zealand) • Commercialisation focus in the 1990s – market rents and sell down of public housing asset • Re-introduction of income related rents and a social allocation system (needs based) in 2001 • Re-investment in capital – stock growth • Specific funding for initiatives such as ‘healthy housing’ and ‘community renewal’ • Different funding regime to Australia

7. Problems confronting the social housing sector in Australia • Policy ‘vacuum’ • Funding model not viable • Growing demand – stock declining slowly • Asset management problems (quality, location) • Client and locational diversity • Housing and non housing benefits of housing assistance not clear • One size fits all model • Staffing issues

8. The macro context Major reform debates. • New funding models, government bonds, tax credits • New affordable housing models • Housing Associations • Public Private Partnerships • Links between housing and planning, non shelter outcomes and ‘welfare reform’

9. The micro context Rethinking service delivery • Moving away from one size fits all models, eg allocations, rent setting; • Retreat from generic skills to specialisation; • Focus on local area integrated planning; • Renewed emphasis on performance reporting and professional standards; • Greater emphasis on community development and networking for non shelter outcomes • Greater fluidity of housing worker roles and sectors

10. PHILOSOPHY AND DIRECTION Providing shelter for those in greatest need. Targeting Stock realignment to need Maintenance and upgrade KEY WORKER TASKS Tenant Management Asset Management The ‘old’ social housing model and work

11. PHILOSOPHY AND DIRECTION Community sustainability Tenants empowerment for non shelter outcomes Support Provision of affordable housing Facilitation of new housing organisations eg housing associations Flexibility and devolution Professionalism The ‘new’ social housing model and work KEY WORKER TASKS • Tenant Management • Asset Management • Community development. • Net workers • Property development • Project management • Social workers/counsellors • Advocacy • Entrepreneurs

12. Summary • Social housing has been ‘remade’ in various countries • More diversity in financing, ownership, management, and models of housing/support • Change is happening in Australia – albeit slowly – away from ‘one size fits all’ model • Involves rethinking the role of governments • Rate of change will be largely driven by financing arrangements