Page 3473 - Week 09 - Thursday, 21 August 2008
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
which commenced on 1 October 2006. The new program encompassed changes to eligibility criteria, a tightening of the ACT residency requirements and major changes to the priority allocation system by moving to a needs-based allocation system which recognises complex needs in the assessment and allocation processes.
Changes in service delivery have improved our responsiveness to the needs of our clients and our tenants. Reforms to the public housing allocation system have resulted in significantly reduced waiting times for those most in need, and the public housing waiting list now also accurately reflects the number of people who need public housing. The process of streamlining commenced with changes to the public housing eligibility requirements and an overhaul of the priority allocation system in 2006.
These changes have reduced the waiting list to 1,112 applicants at July 2008, compared to 2,418 in June 2006 and 3,005 at 30 June 2005. Applicants in need of priority housing are being housed as at 22 July 2008 within 55 days, compared to in excess of nine months under the previous priority system. This has had a positive impact on both those in need of priority housing and on homelessness services that may have been unable to take new clients due to waiting for existing clients to be housed. The benefit has also flowed to those on the high needs and standard waiting lists in the form of greater movement from those lists.
Support to tenants has been expanded to include time on the waiting list prior to housing allocation. A triage model assists people in need through the application process. Free allocation and case conferencing assists in identifying any support agencies currently supporting applicants and may also assist in referring people to agencies that may be able to assist them immediately and/or in the future. Case conferences provide an opportunity for the applicant, Housing ACT and the support agencies to establish a cooperative working relationship aimed at a sustainable tenancy.
Work with support providers as our community partners has included involving them as members of the multi-disciplinary panel assessing applications for priority housing. This involvement increases Housing ACT’s capacity to ensure that appropriate supports are in place to assist tenants with complex needs to plan for and sustain their tenancies. There is a focus on ensuring that organisations funded to provide homelessness services provide the response to crisis, while Housing ACT provides a longer-term housing option.
To increase Housing ACT’s capacity to provide housing assistance to those most in need I announced further reforms in April 2007 aimed at better utilisation of housing stock. These reforms related to tenants with sustainable incomes over $80,000 per annum and to tenants with two or more bedrooms in excess of their current requirements.
Mr Assistant Speaker, following consultation with residents, a right sizing program has been established which is encouraging and supporting people to move to properties which better meet their needs. It takes into account each person’s specific circumstances, such as age, location and family and community commitments. These measures have been progressed by means of extensive public consultation in August and September 2007 to ensure the reforms are sensitive to the aspirations of tenants,
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .