Focus Area 4: Partnerships

Partnering with people living in social or affordable housing or in need of support

You told us that the experience of people living in social housing must be at the centre of our strategy.

Lived experience perspectives should be embedded in design, delivery and evaluation of housing and services

Many submissions advocated for co-design processes and the use of reference groups and inclusion of people living in social housing on the boards of housing associations, in policy design and in program evaluation processes.

Feedback should be acknowledged and actioned

Surveys that gather data are not enough:

“People will need to have a say in what would improve their social housing experience and this should be supported by adequate funding to address responses, for example maintenance and/or refurbishment of existing aged stock” (HousingFirst, Submission 2021).

There should be a variety of options and mechanisms for engagement:

"This may mean a mix of surveys, submission platforms and use of direct service providers to connect with those that are considered 'hard-to-reach'" (City of Greater Geelong, Submission 2021).

Engaging with Aboriginal communities and supporting self-determination should be central goals

The Strategy should align with Mana-na woorn-tyeen maar-tarkoort: Every Aboriginal Person has a Home, the Victorian Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Framework(opens in a new window).

Partnering with housing and homelessness networks

You told us that there is a wealth of existing networks to tap into across homelessness service networks, local council forums, sub-regional networks, and industry action groups.

Partnering with the community housing sector

Consistency is key. Community housing providers highlighted the need to reduce the sector’s dependence on ad hoc funding rounds that require intensive investment of resources. Submissions highlighted that both community housing organisations and private sector actors require long-term funding and policy certainty to plan, partner and commit to pipelines of housing supply.

Partnering with the private sector

The private sector is willing to collaborate but feasibility is key:

“Industry is ready, willing and able to deliver affordable housing in partnership, but not at the expense of investment certainty and project feasibility. […] There must be flexibility to consider and accommodate private sector models for the delivery and management of affordable housing beyond registered housing associations or providers” (Urban Development Institute of Australia, Submission 2021).

Partnering with local government

Local governments are interested in being part of the Social and Affordable Housing Compact but want to know more. Some expressed a desire for increased staffing resources to respond to greater housing responsibilities in their municipalities. Others expressed concern about "the change to effectively remove the ability of Councils to make decisions in accordance with their local Planning Schemes" (City of Stonnington, Submission 2021). Others highlighted the need for shared data and housing targets.