REPORT ON HOUSING ASSISTANCE

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RECOMMENDATIONS

Chapter 2

Recommendation 1: The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth government continue to support the expansion of research and data collection in all areas of housing, particularly those relating to the private rental market.

In particular, the Committee recommends that additional funds be allocated to develop consistency, uniformity, standards (including a definition of 'housing need') and benchmarks for analysis and evaluation purposes in all areas of research concerning public housing.

Recommendation 2: The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth and the States negotiate to reach agreement on affordability and adequacy benchmarks to be used in setting the common goals to be reached under the Commonwealth State Housing Agreement.

Chapter 3

Recommendation 3: The Committee recommends that the provision of public and community housing remain a joint Commonwealth State responsibility.

Recommendation 4: The Committee recommends that maximum rent levels and the rebated rent scales for public housing be included in future Commonwealth State Housing Agreements.

Recommendation 5: The Committee recommends that on its expiration on 30 June 1999, the 1996 Commonwealth State Housing Agreement be replaced by a new Agreement which retains the specification of performance and the strategic planning processes which are in the existing Agreement measures and addresses the issue of State accountability.

Recommendation 6: The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth provide capital funding for public housing at levels sufficient to ensure that the public housing stock is at least 6 per cent of total housing stock.

Recommendation 7: The Committee recommends that the Department of Social Security investigate ways of reducing disincentives to work inherent in the current system of housing assistance payments.

Recommendation 8: The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth negotiate with the States for security of tenure for public tenants to be included in the negotiations for the next CSHA.

Recommendation 9: The Committee recommends that the States and Territories continue to address the issue of redevelopment and improvement of public housing estates as a matter of priority.

Chapter 4

Recommendation 10: The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth reviews its 1997 Budget decision to reduce rent assistance for people in share households.

Recommendation 11: The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth consider the possibility of using a region based formula for Rent Assistance payments.

Recommendation 12: The Committee recommends that the Department of Social Security investigate ways of improving affordability for low income renters in private rental.

Recommendation 13: The Committee recommends:

(i) that the Department of Social Security make use of the Internet and other on-line services to ensure that tenants and community groups are better informed about tenants' rights.

(ii) that State and Territory governments provide better support for tenancy services, especially in rural areas.

Recommendation 14: The Committee recommends that, as part of the COAG process, the Commonwealth negotiate agreed standards of consumer protection for tenants with the States with the objective of legislation being enacted in each State.

Recommendation 15: The Committee recommends that the States and Territories consider introducing regulatory measures in relation to bad tenants databases to protect the privacy rights of tenants and that any extension of the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988 to the private sector should contemplate including the above circumstances.

Chapter 5

Recommendation 16: The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth investigate the reasons why participants in ATSIC's Community Development Employment Scheme (CDEP) program are not eligible for Rent Assistance and whether the current rules should be amended to make them eligible.

Recommendation 17: The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth, States and Territories continue efforts towards coordination of services between all levels of government to facilitate access by indigenous peoples to both mainstream and specific programs that are designed to alleviate their housing problems.

Recommendation 18: The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth, States and Territories continue efforts towards:

• regular reviews of the areas of greatest housing need for indigenous peoples;
• better coordination of services between all levels of government to facilitate access to existing programs at Commonwealth and State level; and
• regular assessments of whether additional funding is needed and in what areas.

Recommendation 19: The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth ensure that the State and Territory governments provide sufficient public housing stock which is appropriately designed and well located near specialised health and other services to meet the needs of people with special needs who need to access such services.

Recommendation 20: The Committee recommends better coordination between Supported Accommodation and Assistance Program (SAAP) and other community services to assist SAAP clients to move from short-term accommodation into long term accommodation either in public housing or the lower end of the private rental market.

Chapter 6:

Recommendation 21: The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth continue funding for national community housing organisations which provide support for the development of community housing.

Recommendation 22: The Committee recommends that in negotiating the next CSHA, the Commonwealth examine methods of providing funding guarantees of more than three years to the States and Territories in order to facilitate private sector involvement in the provision of low cost housing.

Recommendation 23: The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth and the States:

• explore different community housing models to suit the needs of different groups;
• explore ways of raising private finance for low cost and community housing;
• increase the size of the community housing sector; and
• develop model head leases for community housing organisations which are applicable to their relationships with the various State and Territory housing authorities.

Recommendation 24: The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth commission a study into the factors that constitute a barrier to private investment into low cost housing. Such a study should have regard to overseas developments referred to in the earlier discussion.

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