Community housing

Community housing, also referred to as social housing, includes public housing and housing run by not-for-profit agencies for eligible low to medium income Victorians.

Community housing aims to provide affordable long term rental housing with the recognition that people have a right to a sustainable tenancy. It caters to a diverse range of clients and is integrated into the community.

Housing agencies and cooperatives

The majority of properties owned by the Director of Housing are managed by not-for-profit housing agencies through a lease or management contract arrangement, or through a mortgaged interest in some arrangements. Community housing organisations are then able to enter into tenancy agreements as the landlord of the property.

Accreditation and training

The Office of Housing provides accreditation and training and accreditation for community housing organisations and organisations that provide homelessness services.

Organisations that provide homelessness assistance, family violence and other case managed support services that are funded by the Office of Housing must be accredited by June 2009.

Training and accreditation builds the capacity of service providers to enable them to better respond to the changing needs of disadvantaged people, but also encourages greater integration between the housing and homelessness systems, and the business community.

Standards and guidelines

Standards and guidelines are designed to assist funded agencies to deliver services and manage business in accordance with program objectives and funding conditions.

Registration and regulation

Registration and regulation of housing agencies is a fundamental part of the Government’s approach to increasing the supply of affordable rental housing for low-income Victorians. Regulation holds agencies accountable to the Government, tenants, investors and the community for their use of public and private funds to provide community housing where this is not currently provided by the market.