Community Housing Providers: their role in developments funded by Housing Australia Future Fund

Developers looking to take advantage of Australia Government funding incentives to build new social affordable housing, including the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF), should align with a Community Housing Provider who form an essential part of funding success.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s time to partner up.

Forming the right project team is critical for developers to successfully deliver social and affordable housing projects – and partnering with the right Community Housing Provider is crucial to meet the operational requirements of securing funding and subsidizing developments.

What is a Community Housing Provider?

A Community Housing Provider is a not-for-profit which manages social or affordable housing for people on low or moderate incomes as well as those in vulnerable groups (i.e. victims of domestic violence). CHPs can help developers with the operational requirements to assist in accessing the HAFF, which provides additional funding to support and increase social and affordable housing. You can read about HAFF in our previous blog here.

The national regulatory system for community housing providers ensures the sector is well-governed, well-managed, sustainable and meets the housing needs of tenants while providing assurance for government and investors.

How can developers work with Community Housing Providers?

To be eligible to apply for funding from HAFF, developers need to form a special purpose vehicle with either a registered community housing provider, a charitable entity who has a primary purpose of providing housing to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples or to Australian Defense Force members or former members (veterans), or state or local government.

Partnerships and collaborations can take many forms, including:

  • Arrangements to provide finance or funding to deliver or acquire dwellings;

  • Selling or leasing land or dwellings; and

  • Building dwellings.

How development directive can help

Development Directive offers clients up to date industry expertise to deliver better outcomes in the built environment through integrated expertise in town planning, project management and construction.

Developers can use the Provider Register to find a Community Housing Provider that suits their needs and discuss with Development Directive how to take the next step.