What is Community Housing?
Who Funds Community Housing?
Who is Eligible?
What Services Does Central Tablelands Housing Provide?
How is Central Tablelands Housing Association Managed?
How Much Rent Do You Pay?
Is There A Waiting List?
What Type Of Housing Will Be Offered?
Confidentiality.
How To Make A Complaint.
How Do I Apply For Housing?
Additional Documentation that will Help to Process your Application
What Are The Benefits?
Interpreter help
Code of Practice
What is Community Housing?
Community Housing is an alternative to public housing and the private rental market for people on low to moderate incomes, who need low cost housing. It is affordable, non-profit and long term. Properties may be rented from the private market or be owned by the government and managed by housing associations which are non-profit organisations.
Central Tablelands Housing Association (CTHA) is much smaller than public housing and aims to be responsive to your needs. One of the main differences between community housing and public housing is that the degree of tenant involvement can be greater in community housing.
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Who Funds Community Housing?
Community housing is funded by both the NSW and Commonwealth Governments.
Who is Eligible?
To be eligible you must be registered with Housing NSW. CTHA makes allocations to housing on a most in need basis rather than a strict wait your turn. CTHA provides housing for people in housing need including:
► Families
► Young people
► Single people
► Older people
► People with special needs
► Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
► People of non-English-speaking backgrounds
You must be a permanent resident or have Australian citizenship to be eligible.
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What Services Does Central Tablelands Housing Provide?
CTHA offers a number of different housing services, including permanent housing and accommodation with attached support services. CTHA also manages a number of other properties for other community or government organisations who may have the right to nominate who will be housed in those properties.
How is Central Tablelands Housing Association Managed?
The business and operations of CTHA are managed and controlled by a centralised governance board of management. Nine members are appointed to the board by a general meeting of members of the association. The nine directors have demonstrated skills and/or expertise in relation to a number of selection criteria. Tenants are encouraged to nominate to the board of management but must meet the selection criteria. A team of professional and skilled staff undertake the day-to-day operations of the association under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer. CTHA is a registered community housing provider and is fully accredited against the National Community Housing Standards.
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How Much Rent Do You Pay?
If you become a tenant you will be told the market rent of the property, however, you may be eligible for a rebated rent. Community Housing tenants generally pay 25% of their total gross income, however some components are assessed at 15% and some components are not assessed at all. Your local Housing Manager can advise you in more detail.
Community housing tenants are eligible to apply for Rent Assistance from Centrelink. Rent is charged at 100% of Rent Assistance entitlements.
Is There A Waiting List?
Yes– Each Branch of CTHA maintains a local waiting list and allocations are made to those applicants who are assessed as most in need for housing. CTHA using a ranking process to determine who is most in need of housing at the time properties become vacant.
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What Type Of Housing Will Be Offered?
Housing can include units, townhouses, villas, duplexes and houses. What you will be offered will depend on your own individual need, in terms of size and location and what is available at the time.
Confidentiality.
The information you provide will remain confidential and will not be disclosed to members of the public or other organisations without your proper consent or authority.
How To Make A Complaint.
It is your right to make a complaint or voice any concerns you have with services you have received from CTHA. You may pick up a copy of the CTHA Complaints and Appeals Brochure from your local CTHA office which explains in detail the process for making a complaint. The Chief Executive Officer will provide you with any further assistance you may require.
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How Do I Apply For Housing?
Simply phone or make contact with your local CTHA office (see contact details on the back page) and arrange for an appointment with the Branch Staff. Ensure that your application with Housing NSW is current prior to your appointment and take any supporting letters with you which may help demonstrate your current need (e.g. current income statements, letters from Doctors, Social Workers etc).
Additional Documentation that will Help to Process your Application
- Current income statement from Centrelink
- Wages Statement
- Proof of Culture
- Medical Letter
- Support letter from Counsellor or support agency
- Domestic Violence – Coy of current AVO
- Proof of Debt
- Notice of Termination
- Other evidence to support current housing – letters from temporary housing.
- Currently renting – proof of renting (ie rent ledger or lease agreement)
- Confirmation of lodged Housing NSW Application.
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What Are The Benefits?
You get to participate. You can have the opportunity to have a significant say in how your housing is managed.
It’s responsive. It is managed by trained professional staff who can quickly respond to your needs and practical issues, like repairs and maintenance.
It’s local. The housing association has established links to other community services and can provide you with information and contacts for these services which may help you with your needs other than housing.
It’s User Friendly. As a community based organisation, you will find the staff friendly and approachable. Any information you provide will be treated as confidential.
Interpreter help
Central Tablelands Housing Association will assist you if you have difficulty in understanding English or have difficulty with written and/or spoken English. We will get in touch with the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) who will telephone us at no cost to you.
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Code of Practice
CTHA has adopted the NSW Federation of Housing Associations Code of Practice for community housing providers.
Amongst other principles, the association will promote equality of access to all its housing services. This means that the association will not discriminate unlawfully against anyone wanting to access the service.
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