Government Seeks Feedback on Social Housing

Over the next three months the State Government is inviting the wider community, including representative bodies, housing associations, the not for profit sector and business for views about how to reform the social housing system.

In March this year, the Victorian Auditor General released a report titled Access to Public Housing, which has highlighted issues that the Parliamentary Inquiry found, including a financially unsustainable operating model, a significant maintenance backlog and the absence of clear objectives and strategic direction.

Last week the Government released two discussion papers for public feedback and comment:

The first discussion paper, Pathways to a Fair and Sustainable Social Housing System, explores current eligibility, access, tenure and rent policies and asks for your input into how the system can be fairer for tenants, the community and those in need in the context of current fiscal constraints.

The Government commissioned KPMG to develop the second discussion paper, Social Housing – Options to Improve the Supply of Quality Housing, which explores the supply side mechanisms available to improve the availability of quality social housing in a financially sustainable way. You can provide feedback to these discussion papers in several ways: ·        

• complete the online feedback form which will be available at www.dhs.vic.gov.au/housing
• download a copy of the feedback form and email your completed submission to housingframework.consultation@dhs.vic.gov.au
• upload a your completed feedback form at www.dhs.vic.gov.au/housing
• mail your completed feedback form to:

Department of Human Services
Housing Framework Consultation
GPO Box 4057
Melbourne VIC 3001

Public consultation is open until 5pm on 31 July 2012. Please ensure that your submission is received by this date. Consultation details are available on the website.

Public housing tenants have also been advised of the consultation and will have opportunities to participate. The Government will make announcements relating to the next steps in the development of the Housing Framework following the consultation process

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