What's New - Archived
NSW Housing Associations respond to Victorian Bushfire Appeal
Members of the Federation, and individual staff, have donated $6000 to the Red Cross 2009 Victorian Bushfire Appeal through the Federation's special appeal. Individual associations have also donated.
25 Years of Housing Associations
Watch video of '25 Years of Housing Associations in NSW' - (from 25 yr party November 2007). (26 Feb 09)
Statutory consultation on Regulatory Code
The consultation on the Housing Regulation 2008 have been completed. The amendments to the Code are now being considered. More info (5 Dec 2008) For the Federation submission see -submission.
National Rental Affordability Scheme Bill passes the Senate
The NRAS Bill passed the Senate on Monday 24th November after an Inquiry by the Senate Community Affairs Committee. The Federation prepared a submission and presented evidence to the Inquiry (link to our submission) The Senate Inquiry’s report on the Bill has recommended that it be passed (link to report). However, it was touch and go while a solution to the risk that community housing providers who participated could loose their charitable tax status was being negotiated.
The announcement of successful NRAS applicants is expected in the week beginning 1st December.
The NRAS incentive is be made up of $6,000 per property per year for ten years from the Commonwealth (as a tax credit or a grant for not-for-profits) and $2,000 a year (in cash or kind) from States. The second Call for Applications for incentives in the Establishment Phase, Round 2, is due to be issued soon. http://www.facs.gov.au/internet/facsinternet.nsf/housing/nras.htm
To apply in NSW: http://www.housing.nsw.gov.au/Centre+For+Affordable+Housing/NRAS/
NRAS is a key part of a package of changes introduced by the Federal Government to tackle housing affordability and homelessnesshttp://www.facsia.gov.au/internet/facsinternet.nsf/housing/haf.htm http://www.alp.org.au/media/0508/mshouia130.php
Community housing rents changed
The government rent policy determining how community housing rents are set has changed. Community housing rents for new tenants have risen from July 1. Most of this increase will be offset by an increase in the tenant’s entitlement to Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA). Existing tenants’ rents will increase following their next scheduled rent review.
The new rents will be calculated based on a combination of 25% of ‘assessable’ household income, 15% of Family Tax Benefit, and 100% of Commonwealth Rent Assistance Entitlements (as long as the new rent is not more than market rent).
The new rent will mean a net increase in housing costs (after taking the increase in CRA into account) for most current tenants. This will be phased in over a number of years.
While the Federation welcomes the general approach to ensure stronger income streams which will allow associations to provide more housing opportunities for future tenants, we have expressed strong concerns to government about the impact on current tenants.
2008 NSW Community Housing Conference - Conference papers now available.
NSW Awards for Excellence in Community Housing 2008 - winners
‘Growth providers’ now finalised
Following the second round tenders, the associations awarded ‘growth provider’ status have been finalised. They are Affordable Community Housing, Blue CHP (a consortium of five associations: Argyle, Hume, South Coast, Wentworth and Womens), Compass, Community Housing Ltd, North Coast. St George, and South West Inner Sydney Housing (SWISH).
The growth providers will receive weighting in tenders for AIHF tenders, some will convert a number of existing leases into 35-year leases to provide an income stream that supports investment in further housing. In addition, they will manage a high proportion of new supply in the metropolitan area and start work towards managing and developing their own properties.
Latest round of Affordable Housing Innovation Funds (AHIF) awarded
The latest round of funding under the Affordable Housing Innovations Fund has been announced with government investment being made into four projects: Blue CHP (40), South Coast Community Housing Ltd (8), St George Community Housing Co. (50) and Compass (4) have been successful in receiving funding to acquire a total of 102 homes in the Sydney, South Coast and Newcastle area. Unlike previous Debt Equity tenders, a proportion of the properties will not need to be set aside for public housing eligible applicants. Instead, all those housed can be drawn from a mix of very low to moderate income households (earning 50% or less of median household income - 120% of median income). The next round will provide at least $16.5 million of government investment. However, it is expected that these projects will also be designed to utilise the new National Rental Affordability Scheme incentives.
NSW Tenancy Law Reform
The Residential Tenancy Act NSW 1987 is currently under review. Watch this space for further updates.
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