Planning the Future of Not for Profit Housing Providers

The Rudd Government has released its discussion paper on the regulation and growth of the Not for Profit housing sector. The paper marks the start of a public consultation process looking at ways that can better support and sustain the growing sector.

The paper addresses the role of regulation in protecting the interests of tenants, funders and housing providers and the need to strengthen the provision of Indigenous community housing.

Some of the key messages in the discussion paper include:

• Addressing the shortage of housing supply through growth in the Not for Profit housing sector;
• Regulation that protects the interests of government, tenants and providers; and
• Attracting private investment into the sector.

The aim is to get input from the Not for Profit sector, investors, tenant groups, Indigenous community housing, developers and the business community into the formulation of clear policy directions.

The paper says the community housing sector increased by a third between 2003 and 2008, demonstrating the ability of Not for Profit providers to build more homes when working with finance, developers and other commercial partners than would have been possible through government grants alone.

Federal Minister for Housing, Tanya Plibersek says she wants the paper to provoke debate and discussion and result in the best possible blueprint for growing and extending Not for Profit housing so the sector can take a stronger role in meeting Australia’s housing needs.

The Minister says there’s a need for a national regulatory system that protects the interests of tenants and governments and at the same time builds investor confidence in the sector.

The paper argues that the sector’s potential will be constrained unless there are changes to institutional frameworks, improved access to capital funding and a significant shift in scale and sophistication of operations.

The report says housing providers need the assurance of a national regulatory system which gives them the opportunity to operate across state and territory borders and to enter into solid commercial relationships.
Anyone with an interest in how the sector can help increase the supply of affordable rental housing can contribute to this discussion by providing a written or online submission.

Further opportunity to contribute will be available through a series of public consultations which will be held in 11 locations across Australia, starting in Sydney on May 3, 2010.

Submissions to the discussion paper close on June 4, 2010.

The Discussion Paper and information about the public consultations are available at www.fahcsia.gov.au or by calling 1800 919 511.