Getting off the waiting list? Managing housing assistance provision in an era of

Table of Contents

• List of tables 5
• List of figures 5
• Acronyms and abbreviations used in this report 7
• Glossary 7
• Executive summary 8
• 1. Introduction 13
• 1.1 Overview 14
• 1.2 Housing assistance in Australia 15
• 1.3 The effectiveness of alternative forms of housing assistance in Australia 16
• 1.4 Housing assistance application process 17
• 1.5 Research methods and participants 17
• 1.6 Report outline 21
• 2. Analysing and quantifying housing assistance: Statistical overview 22
• 2.1 Trends in social housing provision and tenancy allocations 23
• 2.2 Managing the social housing waiting list 26
• 2.3 Other forms of housing assistance 29
• 2.4 Conclusion 30
• 3. Administration of housing assistance 31
• 3.1 Eligibility and targeting 32
• 3.2 Application and assessment processes 38
• 3.3 Rationale: Getting off the waiting list? 39
• 3.4 Accountability in access to housing assistance 41
• 3.5 Conclusion 43
• 4. Client experience of housing assistance application processes 44
• 4.1 Client satisfaction with the application process 45
• 4.2 Complexity of the application process 46
• 4.3 Inadequate communication and transparency 49
• 4.4 Poor administration of applications 50
• 4.5 Treatment by housing and support staff 51
• 4.6 Navigating the system 52
• 4.7 Conclusion 53
• 5. Experience of housing assistance application scope and products 54
• 5.1 Effectiveness of alternative housing assistance products 55
• 5.2 Waiting for social housing 62
• 5.3 Effectiveness of social housing assistance 67
• 5.4 Conclusion 71
• 6. Policy development options 72
• 6.1 Application process and assessment 72
• 6.2 Tailored delivery of housing services 73
• 6.3 Entitlements and accountability 73
• 6.4 Monitoring PRA efficacy 73
• 6.5 Partnership with private housing providers 74
• 6.6 Statistical data recommendations 74
• References 75
• Appendix I: A snapshot of alternative housing assistance products in Australia 79
• Appendix II: The proforma used to request waiting list and housing assistance data 85
• Appendix III: The topic guide for agency interviews 86
• Appendix IV: Survey participants 90
• Appendix V: The topic guides for applicant and tenant interviews 96
• Table 1: Research questions and methods 17
• Table 2: The number of survey respondents in each participating jurisdiction 19
• Table 3: Social housing lettings to new tenants, 2017–22 24
• Table 4: Public housing waiting lists: Registrations at 30 June annually 25
• Table 5: New applicants registering for social housing in 2021–22: Breakdown according to assigned rehousing priority 27
• Table 6: Waiting list dynamics, 2021–22 27
• Table 7: Reported waiting list deletions*, 2021–22. Breakdown by reason for deletion 28
• Table 8: Housing assistance products/services: Official statistics 29
• Table 9: PRA program eligibility criteria for the four case study jurisdictions 34
• Table 10: Summary of state/territory-based programs facilitating access to the private rental market as an alternative to social housing 79
• Table 11: The proforma used to request data on waiting list and housing assistance data sourced from state/territory housing authorities across Australia 85
• Figure 1: The proportion of survey participants in each state and from each cohort 20
• Figure 2: Social housing lettings to new tenants, 2017–22, indexed 24
• Figure 3: Public housing waiting lists: Registrations at 30 June annually, indexed 25
• Figure 4: Satisfaction with the application process 45
• Figure 5: Cohort (a)’s level of agreement with the statement: ‘A state/territory government officer provided helpful advice on my housing options’ 47
• Figure 6: Cohort (a)’s level of agreement with the statement: ‘I received helpful additional assistance from a non-government service provider (e.g. case worker, outreach worker, homelessness service provider, community housing provider, tenant advocate)’ 47
• Figure 7: Cohort (a)’s level of agreement with the statement: ‘There was an opportunity to ask questions, and helpful answers were given’ 48
• Figure 8: Cohort (a)’s level of agreement with the statement: ‘The advice on my housing options influenced my thinking on what form(s) of available help could be useful’ 48
• Figure 9: Cohort (a)’s level of agreement with the statement: ‘The state/territory government officer discouraged me from registering for social housing’ 48
• Figure 10: Types of assistance participants were offered when they contacted their state/territory government for help 56
• Figure 11: Cohort (a)’s level of satisfaction with the housing assistance received 57
• Figure 12: Ability to secure rental tenancy among participants who received a bond loan and/or ongoing (private) rental subsidy 57
• Figure 13: The commonality of bond loan offers and acceptance to new applicants and new tenants who participated in this study 59
• Figure 14: Participant level of agreement with the statement: ‘I want a social housing tenancy on a permanent basis’ 60
• Figure 15: Cohort (a)’s level of agreement with the statement: ‘A social housing tenancy would be ideal for me’; and Cohort (b)’s level of agreement with the statement: ‘A social housing tenancy is ideal for me’ 61
• Figure 16: Cohort (a)’s level of agreement with the statement: ‘I need more help to afford market rent and would prefer to avoid social housing’; and Cohort (b)’s level of agreement with the statement: ‘I would have preferred to avoid social housing, but 61
• Figure 17: Participant level of agreement with the statement: ‘I was surprised by the information provided on the likely waiting time for a social housing offer’ 62
• Figure 18: Cohort (b)’s perception of waiting time 63
• Figure 19: The proportion of Cohort (b) in each category of general and priority 63
• Figure 20: The length of the time participants in Cohort (b) were on the social housing register before being offered a tenancy 64
• Figure 21: Participant level of agreement with the statement: ‘I registered for social housing more in hope than expectation’ 64
• Figure 22: The number of moves that participants in Cohort (b) experienced 65
• Figure 23: Changes in housing situation while awaiting a tenancy offer among participants in Cohort (b) 65
• Figure 24: The impact of the change in the housing situation on the process of social housing applications among participants in Cohort (b) 66
• Figure 25: Participant level of agreement with the statement: ‘I was advised to alter my choice of preferred area(s) because of different expected waiting times’ 67
• Figure 26: Cohort (b)’s level of satisfaction with the housing assistance received 67
• Figure 27: Cohort (b)’s level of agreement with the statement: ‘Getting a public housing tenancy provided relief from anxiety around my housing situation’ 69
• Figure 28: Cohort (b)’s level of agreements with the statement: ‘I want a social housing tenancy as a stepping-stone to something better’ 69
• Figure 29: Survey participant gender 90
• Figure 30: Survey participant age 91
• Figure 31: Survey participant origin 91
• Figure 32: Survey participant language spoken with family 92
• Figure 33: Survey participant household composition 92
• Figure 34: Survey participant employment status 93
• Figure 35: The main factor that prompted participants to apply for housing assistance 94
• Figure 36: Participant housing situation at the time of application 95