Call for Contributions – June 2015
Introduction
The private renal market has traditionally been a housing option for those exiting homelessness
and transitional housing. However, access to the private rental market has become increasingly
difficult for many people experiencing homelessness. The lack of affordable private rental
properties and the very strong demand for them has meant that those seeking to exit
homelessness through private rental are often caught between a rock and a hard place.
Those that do access private rental are often only able to do so with the assistance of the
brokerage programs provided by homelessness and housing services. Moreover, sustaining a
private rental is often difficult given their usually high rents and the low income of tenants. As a
result, many living is private rental experience housing stress where a disproportionately large
proportion of their limited income is spent on housing. Failure to maintain private rental is thus
frequently a cause of homelessness.
Nevertheless, there is increasing evidence that where appropriate support and assistance is
provided, private rental is a sustainable option for some of those seeking to exit homelessness.
This edition of Parity will examine the nexus between homeless and private rental by looking the
issues outlined above, as well as:
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the various government policies designed to assist people into private rental
the legislative and policy frameworks governing the regulation of renting
the support frameworks in place to assist tenants maintain and sustain their tenure.
A Proposed Structure
Chapter 1: Private Rental in Context
The aim of this chapter is to look at the development and role of private market in providing
housing for marginalised and disadvantaged people, particularly those seeking to exit
homelessness.
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What role historically has private rental played in the policy response to homelessness?
How has the private rental market developed in terms of providing access to marginalised and
disadvantaged people, particularly the affordable private rental market?
Has the development of the private rental market actually contributed to homelessness in
Australia?
What have been the major influences on the development of the private rental market in
Australia?
What can be done to improve the amount of affordable rental stock available for low income
households?
The June 2015 “Dear Landlord: Private
Rental and Homelessness” Edition of
Parity
The June 2015 “Dear Landlord: Private Rental and Homelessness”
Edition of Parity
2 Stanley Street Collingwood Victoria 3066 P 03) 8415 6200 F 03) 9419 7445 [email protected] www.chp.org.au ABN: 20005475007
Page 2
Chapter 2: Private Rental and the State
The aim of this chapter is to examine the role of government policy in providing access to private
rental housing and in helping to maintain and sustain tenancies.
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What has been the role of Commonwealth Rent Assistance in providing access to affordable
private rental housing for people experiencing homelessness? Has it been successful in lifting
low income households out of housing related poverty and increasing the supply of affordable
rental housing?
How successful has the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS) been in increasing the
supply of affordable rental housing?
How successful have various state government rental assistance programs been in assisting
marginalised and disadvantaged people access and maintain private rental?
How have government social housing policies interacted with the private rental market in
meeting the housing needs of low income and other marginalised and disadvantaged people?
How important has been the role of the brokerage services provided by agencies in assisting
their clients into private rental?
What are some examples of state and territory government policies aimed at assisting
marginalised and disadvantaged people access private rental?
How successful have these programs been? What are their limitations?
What is the role of other mainstream services, income support, health, education, mental
health and so on, in helping marginalised and disadvantaged private rental tenants maintain
their housing?
What role is local government playing in the provision of affordable rental housing?
Chapter 3: Regulating Private Rental
The aim of this chapter is to examine and discuss the legislative and regulatory frameworks
designed to protect and support people in the private rental market and prevent discrimination in
access to rental accommodation.
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What can be done to prevent discrimination in access to private rental?
How can tenancy data bases be regulated to prevent discrimination against low income and
other marginalised and disadvantaged groups gaining access to private rental?
How successful have the various Residential Tenancy Acts been in balancing the rights and
interests of tenants and landlords?
What changes if any need to be made in RTAs to help maintain and sustain the tenancies of
marginalised and disadvantaged people?
What can be done to improve the security of tenure for marginalised and disadvantaged
private renters?
What can be done to improve access to a private rental housing market that discriminates
against those with limited financial resources such as the working poor and those on benefits?
Likewise, what can be done to assist those with limited financial resources maintain and
sustain their tenancies?
2 Stanley Street Collingwood Victoria 3066 P 03) 8415 6200 F 03) 9419 7445 [email protected] www.chp.org.au ABN: 20005475007
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Chapter 4: Private Rental and Housing Stress
The aim of this chapter is to discuss the nexus between renting and homelessness, in particular the
role of private rental housing stress as a contributor to homelessness.
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What are the levels of housing stress experienced by those dependent on private rental for
housing?
What are the social and human costs of housing stress?
What are the links between housing stress and homelessness?
What groups are most vulnerable to housing stress? For example what levels of housing stress
are experienced by older people and women and children escaping domestic violence
dependant of private rental accommodation?
Chapter 5: Supporting Private Rental
This chapter will look at the programs and services designed to both assist people into private
rental and as importantly, maintain and sustain their rental housing. As well as the assistance
provided through the National Affordable Housing Agreement (NAHA), the National Rental
Affordability Scheme (NRAS) and the various state and territory government private rent assistance
packages and programs, there are many innovative programs developed and provided by nongovernment and not-for profit agencies that help people to maintain their private rental of these
programs in place.
In particular this chapter will look at the work of various Private Rental Brokerage
Programs provided by non-government and not-for profit agencies.
This chapter will be an opportunity to examine and discuss the role and effectiveness of these
supports in providing access to and sustaining private rental housing.
Chapter 6: Reforming Private Rental
The aim of this chapter is to look at some of the recent initiatives aimed at making private rental
both more accessible and sustainable for those seeking to exit homelessness.
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How can private rental be made more accessible to those experiencing homelessness?
What can be done to improve the supply of affordable rental housing?
What role can specialist homelessness services play in both developing the affordable private
rental market and helping tenants sustain their housing?
2 Stanley Street Collingwood Victoria 3066 P 03) 8415 6200 F 03) 9419 7445 [email protected] www.chp.org.au ABN: 20005475007
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Contributing to this edition of Parity
Deadline: All contributions need to be submitted by COB Friday June 12th 2015.
Submissions: All contributions should be submitted as Word attachments to an email addressed to
[email protected]
Word length: Contributions can be up to 1600 words. This equates to a double page spread in
Parity. Single page articles can be up to 800 words in length. Contributions of a greater length
should be discussed with the Parity Editor.
Questions: If you have any questions at all about contributing to this edition please contact the
Parity Editor by email [email protected] or ring 03 8415 6201.
Referencing
NB: Due to space considerations, contributors are encouraged to use endnotes when referencing
their Parity articles. All works that are cited or referred to in an article should be referenced.
For example:
1. Johnson G, Kuehnle D, Parkinson S, Sesa S and Tseng Y 2014, ‘Resolving long-term homelessness:
A randomised controlled trial examining the 36 month costs, benefits and social outcomes from
the Journey to Social Inclusion pilot program’, Sacred Heart Mission, St Kilda.
2. Parkinson S 2012, ‘ The Journey to Social Inclusion Project in Practice- A process evaluation of
the first 18 months’, AHURI Research Centre, RMIT University, Melbourne, p. 19.
CHP does not encourage contributors to submit a bibliography of references used in the
development of an article that are not cited in the article. There is simply insufficient space for the
inclusion of extensive bibliographies.
For more detailed information on referencing and writing guidelines for Parity see:
http://chp.org.au/services/Parity-magazine/contribute-to-Parity/
Content
By providing your contribution, you confirm and agree that (except where you have referenced or
cited any other’s work) the contribution is your original work and has not been copied from any
other source.
Use of content
If your contribution is accepted, it will be published by or on CHP’s behalf in an edition of the Parity
magazine. Parity is available in hard copy and online.
Online copies of back editions of Parity can be found on:
http://search.informit.com.au/browseJournalTitle;res=IELHSS;issn=1032-6170
Assistance
Feedback, input and assistance can be provided with drafts if required. If prospective contributors
have any questions at all they should contact the Parity Editor, [email protected] or ring 03 8415
6201/6200.
2 Stanley Street Collingwood Victoria 3066 P 03) 8415 6200 F 03) 9419 7445 [email protected] www.chp.org.au ABN: 20005475007