Social housing and specialist homelessness services additional service delivery data 2015-16
Contents
Social housing and specialist homelessness services
Social housing
Direct tenure public rental housing
Rental general housing
Movable units
Public housing assistance
Public housing waiting lists, tenancies and rebates
Public housing client profiles
Public housing rebated tenancies by main source of income
Incident reporting
Public housing stock
Bond Loan Scheme
Social housing stock management
Summary of stock management program activities
Social housing acquisitions
Housing sales by service type
Changes to Director owned dwellings for 2015–16
Social housing stock by housing program at 30 June
Acquisitions and disposals
Dwellings acquired in 2015–16 by dwelling type
Dwellings acquired in 2015–16 by type of acquisition
Director owned acquisitions by number of bedrooms by division
Director owned sales, demolitions and lease hand-backs for 2015–16
Total social housing dwellings at 30 June 2016
Social housing dwellings by local government area
Director owned units by number of bedrooms
Social housing and specialist homelessness services
The department and funded community service organisations provide housing and support to Victorians most in need. These services include long-term housing programs as well as temporary accommodation and homelessness support. In 2015–16:
- 62,989 households were assisted with long-term direct tenure public housing
- an estimated 100,000 clients were assisted to address and prevent homelessness.
Social housing
Social housing assistance focuses on providing adequate, affordable and accessible housing targeted to those in greatest need, delivered cost-effectively and in coordination with support services where required. Social housing assistance is provided on a long or short-term basis.
Long-term social housing assistance includes public rental accommodation, community-managed housing[1]in Director owned properties[2]and community-owned stock for designated client groups and rental accommodation for low income Victorians with identified support needs. Long-term public rental housing also includes movable units.In recent years, housing assistance has been increasingly targeted to people in greatest need. Targeting to high need groups has impacts in terms of stock turnover and costs.
Short-term social housing is provided to Victoria’s homeless individuals and families. Clients are assisted under the Crisis Supported Accommodation and Transitional Housing Management programs.
Direct tenure public rental housing
Direct tenure public rental housing consists of the department’s major public rental housing Rental General Housing and Movable Units. It provides long-term rental housing assistance and is available to low income households that meet eligibility limits within the individual programs.
Rental general housing
Rental general housing is a major form of long-term rental assistance offered by the department to low-income people in need of public rental assistance. It includes separate houses and medium- to high-density dwellings and flats. It does not include movable units and other direct tenure stock. Eligible households may receive a rental rebate according to household income. The main client groups assisted by rental general housing are low income families, older people, single people, youth and people with disabilities.
Movable units
Movable units are one or two bedroom re-locatable units owned by the Director of Housing. They are designed to offer eligible Victorians with support need, accommodation to keep living independently while maintaining close contact with family and friends. The units are self-contained and are generally placed in the rear garden of a relative or friend’s home. Eligible households may receive a rental rebate according to household income. When the unit is no longer required, it is removed from the site. The target group for movable units include low-income people over 55 years of age or under 55 if receiving an Australian Disability Support Pension; or receiving ongoing support from the department or a registered community service organisation.
Public housing assistance
Table 1: New households assisted
Description / 2014–15 / 2015–16Rental general / 3,836 / 3,695
Movable units / 153 / 141
Total / 3,989 / 3,836
Table 2: Households assisted at 30 June
Description / 2015 / 2016Rental general / 61,850 / 61,775
Movable units / 1,264 / 1,214
Total / 63,114 / 62,989
Table 3: Direct tenure public rental housing 2015-16 (rental general stock and movable units) by division
Description / East / North / South / WestWaiting list at 30 June 2016[3](new) / 5,335 / 7,272 / 10,094 / 9,454
Waiting list at 30 June 2016[4](transfer) / 1,015 / 1,773 / 2,154 / 2,503
New allocations[5]2015–16 / 610 / 987 / 1,058 / 1,181
Transfer allocations 2015–16 / 215 / 365 / 222 / 431
Tenancies at 30 June 2016[6] / 9,721 / 17,957 / 16,836 / 18,475
Rebated tenancies at 30 June 2016[7] / 8,525 / 15,862 / 14,454 / 16,312
Public housing waiting lists, tenancies and rebates
Table 4: Waiting lists
Description / 30 June 2015 / 30 June 2016Rental general waiting list[8] / 34,358 / 32,155
Rental general transfer list[9] / 7,503 / 7,445
Movable units waiting list / 106 / 95
Early housing waiting list / 9,798 / 10,026
Table 5: Rental general tenancies
Description / 30 June 2015 / 30 June 2016Total tenancies in rental general at 30 June / 61,850 / 61,775
Tenancies in rental general on rebates at 30 June / 53,975 / 54,110
Proportion on rebates – rental general / 87.3% / 87.60%
Table 6: Movable unit tenancies
Description / 30 June 2015 / 30 June 2016Total tenancies in movable units at 30 June / 1,264 / 1,214
Tenancies in Movable Units on rebates at 30 June / 1,075 / 1,043
Proportion on rebates – Movable Units / 85.0% / 85.90%
Table 7: Public Housing tenancies (Rental General Stock and Movable unit)
Description / 30 June 2015 / 30 June 2016Total tenancies in public housing at 30 June / 63,114 / 62,989
Total tenancies on rebates at 30 June / 55,050 / 55,153
Public housing client profiles
Table 8: Public housing clients by age of principal tenant at 30 June 2016:
Age group / <20 / 20–24 / 25–34 / 35–44 / 45–54 / 55–59 / 60–64 / 65+ / TotalMovable units - Tenancies / 24 / 86 / 131 / 112 / 88 / 51 / 62 / 660 / 1,214
Rental general stock clients - Tenancies / 234 / 1,451 / 5,579 / 9,367 / 12,907 / 6,777 / 6,520 / 18,940 / 61,775
Public housing rebated tenancies by main source of income
Table 9: Public housing rebated tenancies by main source of income at 30 June 2016
Main Income Source / Rental general stock households 30 June 2016 / Movable units30 June 2016 / Total direct tenure (N) / Total direct
tenure (%)
Aged Pension / 15,034 / 519 / 15,553 / 28.20%
Mature Age/Widows Pension / 373 / 9 / 382 / 0.69%
Single Parenting Payment / 3,827 / 1 / 3,828 / 6.94%
Disability Support Pension / 20,849 / 466 / 21,315 / 38.65%
Service Pension / 440 / 20 / 460 / 0.83%
New Start and Partnered Payment / 7,718 / 12 / 7,730 / 14.02%
Sickness Allowance / 50 / 0 / 50 / 0.09%
Wages/self employed / 3,163 / 4 / 3,167 / 5.74%
Austudy/Abstudy payment / 192 / 0 / 192 / 0.35%
Youth Allowance / 316 / 4 / 320 / 0.58%
Other, including Special Benefits / 2,148 / 8 / 2,156 / 3.91%
Total / 54,110 / 1,043 / 55,153 / 100.00%
Rental rebates are provided to low income households in public housing. The rebate represents the difference between rent paid by the household and the market rent of the public housing property.
Incident reporting
Incident reporting data is a snapshot in time of allegations made by clients of the Department of Health and Human Services. They are recorded and remain as incidents regardless of whether further information becomes available to substantiate or disprove an event. Incident reports include disclosures of historic abuse and assault that were alleged to have occurred before a client entered state care.
Category One incidents are the most serious incidents and include incidents such as death of clients; allegations of physical or sexual assault; and serious client behavioural issues that impact on client or staff safety. Where there is an allegation, it is met with a strong response that includes medical attention (should this be required), a report to police if it involves an allegation of physical or sexual abuse or a client is a victim of a crime and counselling and support being offered to all parties.
Incident reporting enables service providers to take prompt corrective-action to protect the wellbeing and safety of clients where necessary and better understand the underlying causes of incidents to prevent their recurrence.
Table 10: Category one incidents[10]
Incident type / 2015–16Client death / 74
Assault / 64
Behaviour / 40
Other incident types / 212
Client death
As in the general population, housing tenants may pass away at home. The department and funded community service organisations are required to report deaths as incidents when the death occurs in an unusual or unexpected circumstance, for example, substance overdose or suicide. Client deaths reported include some members of the public who died at a property funded or managed by the department.
Assault
Assault includes both alleged physical and sexual assaults. Assaults reported as Category one incidents are serious events that may involve medical attention or police investigation. The department has very clear and strict procedures requiring all allegations of assault to be reported to the department within 24 hours, and that clients are protected and supported. All allegations of assault are required to be referred to the police.
Behaviour
Incidents involve aberrant or threatening behaviour.
Other incident types
Other incidents include matters such as property damage/disruption, suicide attempts and serious illness.
Public housing stock
At 30 June 2016, the department managed a total of 64,239direct tenure public rental units. This number consists of 62,952rental general stock units (including leases) and1,287movable units.
Table 11: Stock[11]
Description / 30 June 2015 / 30 June 2016Total rental general stock at 30 June / 63,047 / 62,952
Total movable units at30June / 1,357 / 1,287
Total / 64,404 / 64,239
Table 12: Rental general stock and movable units by division at 30 June 2016[12]
Division / Rental general stock / Movable unitsEast / 9,585 / 288
North / 18,035 / 335
South / 16,702 / 372
West / 18,630 / 292
Total / 62,952 / 1,287
Bond Loan Scheme
Under the Bond Loan Scheme, the department makes loans available to low income earners for assistance with security deposits required by private landlords when entering private rental accommodation. The scheme is demand driven and is affected by conditions in affordable private rental markets.
A bond loan is an interest-free loan repayable by the applicant. A cheque is provided to the applicant or sent directly to the landlord who must lodge the money with the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority within five days. Bond loans do not cover the costs of relocation or storage. Demand for assistance decreased by four per cent during 2015-16.
Table 13: Bond loans issued
Description / 2014–15 / 2015–16Number of bonds issued / 12,252 / 11,761
Social housing stock management
At 30 June 2016, the department oversaw a total stock portfolio of 86,266social housing dwellings including 73,630 Director owned (or leased)units and 12,636community-owned units. Progressively, strategic asset investment is changing the stock profile to reflect the emerging requirements of people needing housing assistance, including smaller households and people with a disability.
A total of 1,362 units, including Director owned units and community-owned units, were added to the stock of social housing during 2015-16.
Summary of stock management program activities
The following tables provide a summary of stock management program activities during 2015–16, as well as a profile of Victoria’s public and community housing stock as at 30 June 2016.
Social housing acquisitions
Table 14: Social housing acquisitions 2015-16
Description / Units acquiredManaged stock sub-program total / 131
Family / 120
Older persons / 8
Singles / 3
Community-owned and managed / 1,155
Community-owned and managed / 1,154
Crisis Supported housing / 1
Transitional housing / 0
Leases total / 76
Rental general stock leases / 3
Transitional housing leases / 73
Total social housing acquisitions / 1,362
Housing sales by service type
Table 15: Director owned units sold by product type:
Housing type / 2014–15 / 2015-16Direct tenure schemes total / 164 / 105
Public Housing / 164 / 105
Aboriginal housing / 0 / 0
Community-managed housing total / 1 / 2
Transitional housing / 0 / 0
Crisis Supported Housing / 0 / 0
Long Term Community Housing / 1 / 2
Total direct tenure and community-managed housing sales / 165 / 107
Community facilities and commercial tenancies / 1 / 0
Total sales / 166 / 107
Changes to Director owned dwellings for 2015–16
Table 16: Director owned stock (including leases and other Director-managed units)
Description / UnitsStock at 30 June 2015 / 73,728
Additions Total / 265
New handovers / 164
Stock conversion additions / 17
Spot Purchase / 5
New short-term leases / 76
Stock online / 1
Other / 2
Subtractions Total / 363
Sales / 107
Demolitions / 171
Short-term lease hand backs / 83
Stock offline / 0
Stock conversion reductions / 0
Transferred / 2
Stock at 30 June 2016 / 73,630
Social housing stock by housing program at 30 June
Table 17: Director owned (including leases and other Director-managed units) and social housing stock at 30 June by housing program
Program / 2015 / 2016Total Direct tenure public rental / 64,811 / 64,663
Rental general stock (including leases) / 63,047 / 62,952
Movable units / 1,357 / 1,287
Other direct tenure[13] / 407 / 424
Total Community managed rental housing / 18,583 / 19,597
Short-medium term community housing / 3,962 / 3,974
Crisis supported accommodation / 304 / 299
Transitional Housing Management Program (including leases) / 3,658 / 3,675
Long-term community rental housing / 14,621 / 15,623
Total Indigenous Community Housing[14] / 1,992 / 2,006
Social housing total / 85,386 / 86,266
Human service delivery data 2015–16: Social housing1
Acquisitions and disposals
Dwellings acquired in 2015–16 by dwelling type
Table 18: East Division Director owned units acquired (including leases and other Director-managed units) by dwelling type and community-owned acquired by local area within division
Division and local area / House / Medium Density Attached / Medium Density Detached / Low-rise flat / Movable Unit / Multiple Unit Facility Unit / Community Owned / TotalGoulburn / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 40 / 14 / 54
Inner Eastern Melbourne / 5 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 56 / 65
Outer Eastern Melbourne / 2 / 5 / 2 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 57 / 68
Ovens Murray / 1 / 0 / 5 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 4 / 10
East Total / 8 / 8 / 7 / 0 / 3 / 40 / 131 / 197
Table 19: North Division Director owned units acquired (including leases and other Director-managed units) by dwelling type and community-owned acquired by local area within division
Division and local area / House / Medium Density Attached / Medium Density Detached / Low-rise flat / Movable Unit / Multiple Unit Facility Unit / Community Owned / TotalHume Moreland / 4 / 8 / 4 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 132 / 148
Loddon / 1 / 0 / 7 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 10 / 18
Mallee / 0 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 3
North Eastern Melbourne / 13 / 21 / 27 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 27 / 91
North Total / 18 / 29 / 40 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 170 / 260
Table 20: South Division Director owned units acquired (including leases and other Director-managed units) by dwelling type and community-owned acquired by local area within division
Division and local area / House / Medium Density Attached / Medium Density Detached / Low-rise flat / Movable Unit / Multiple Unit Facility Unit / Community Owned / TotalBayside Peninsula / 4 / 21 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 97 / 122
Inner Gippsland / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 10 / 11
Outer Gippsland / 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 3
Southern Melbourne / 12 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 153 / 167
South Total / 19 / 23 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 260 / 303
Table 21: West Division Director owned units acquired (including leases and other Director-managed units) by dwelling type and community-owned acquired by local area within division
Division and local area / House / Medium Density Attached / Medium Density Detached / Low-rise flat / Movable Unit / Multiple Unit Facility Unit / Community Owned / TotalBarwon / 8 / 0 / 19 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 14 / 41
Brimbank Melton / 1 / 4 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 3 / 10
Central Highlands / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 33 / 33
Wimmera South West / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 19 / 20
Western Melbourne / 5 / 7 / 1 / 1 / 0 / 17 / 467 / 498
West Total / 15 / 11 / 22 / 1 / 0 / 17 / 536 / 602
Table 22: Total Director owned units acquired (including leases and other Director-managed units) by dwelling type and community-owned acquired by division
Division / House / Medium Density Attached / Medium Density Detached / Low-rise flat / Movable Unit / Multiple Unit Facility Unit / Community Owned / TotalEast / 8 / 8 / 7 / 0 / 3 / 40 / 131 / 197
North / 18 / 29 / 40 / 3 / 0 / 0 / 170 / 260
South / 19 / 23 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 260 / 303
West / 15 / 11 / 22 / 1 / 0 / 17 / 536 / 602
Total / 60 / 71 / 70 / 4 / 3 / 57 / 1097 / 1362
Dwellings acquired in 2015–16 by type of acquisition[15]
Table 23: East Division Director owned (including leases and other director-managed units) and community-owned acquisitions by type of acquisition and local area within division
Division and local area / Director owned new construction / Director owned spot purchase / Director owned stock conversion additions / Director owned leased in / Director owned stock online / Director owned other / Community Owned / TotalGoulburn / 40 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 14 / 54
Inner Eastern Melbourne / 5 / 0 / 0 / 4 / 0 / 0 / 56 / 65
Outer Eastern Melbourne / 4 / 2 / 0 / 5 / 0 / 0 / 57 / 68
Ovens Murray / 5 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 4 / 10
East Total / 54 / 2 / 0 / 10 / 0 / 0 / 131 / 197
Table 24: North Division Director owned (including leases and other director-managed units) and community-owned acquisitions by type of acquisition and local area within division
Division and local area / Director owned new construction / Director owned spot purchase / Director owned stock conversion additions / Director owned leased in / Director owned stock online / Director owned other / Community Owned / TotalHume Moreland / 13 / 1 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 132 / 148
Loddon / 7 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 10 / 18
Mallee / 2 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 / 3
North Eastern Melbourne / 45 / 0 / 0 / 18 / 0 / 1 / 27 / 91
North Total / 67 / 2 / 0 / 20 / 0 / 1 / 170 / 260
Table 25: South Division Director owned (including leases and other director-managed units) and community-owned acquisitions by type of acquisition and local area within division
Division and local area / Director owned new construction / Director owned spot purchase / Director owned stock conversion additions / Director owned leased in / Director owned stock online / Director owned other / Community Owned / TotalBayside Peninsula / 2 / 0 / 0 / 23 / 0 / 0 / 97 / 122
Inner Gippsland / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 10 / 11
Outer Gippsland / 3 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 3
Southern Melbourne / 6 / 0 / 0 / 8 / 0 / 0 / 153 / 167
South Total / 12 / 0 / 0 / 31 / 0 / 0 / 260 / 303
Table 26: West Division Director owned (including leases and other director-managed units) and community-owned acquisitions by type of acquisition and local area within division
Division and local area / Director owned new construction / Director owned spot purchase / Director owned stock conversion additions / Director owned leased in / Director owned stock online / Director owned other / Community Owned / TotalBarwon / 27 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 14 / 41
Brimbank Melton / 2 / 0 / 0 / 5 / 0 / 0 / 3 / 10
Central Highlands / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 33 / 33
Wimmera South West / 0 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 19 / 20
Western Melbourne / 2 / 0 / 17 / 10 / 1 / 1 / 467 / 498
West Total / 31 / 1 / 17 / 15 / 1 / 1 / 536 / 602
Table 27: Total Director owned (including leases and other director-managed units) and community-owned acquisitions by type of acquisition and division
Division and local area / Director owned new construction / Director owned spot purchase / Director owned stock conversion additions / Director owned leased in / Director owned stock online / Director owned other / Community Owned / TotalEast / 54 / 2 / 0 / 10 / 0 / 0 / 131 / 197
North / 67 / 2 / 0 / 20 / 0 / 1 / 170 / 260
South / 12 / 0 / 0 / 31 / 0 / 0 / 260 / 303
West / 31 / 1 / 17 / 15 / 1 / 1 / 536 / 602
Total / 164 / 5 / 17 / 76 / 1 / 2 / 1,097 / 1,362
Director owned acquisitions by number of bedrooms by division for 2015-16
Table 28: Summary of Director owned (including leases and other director-managed units) acquisitions by number of bedrooms by division
Division / One Bedroom / Two Bedroom / Three Bedroom / Four Bedroom / Five Bedroom / Six + Bedroom / Numberof Units / Total Bedrooms
East / 42 / 18 / 4 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 66 / 98
North / 12 / 53 / 20 / 5 / 0 / 0 / 90 / 198
South / 10 / 27 / 4 / 2 / 0 / 0 / 43 / 84
West / 29 / 29 / 6 / 1 / 1 / 0 / 66 / 114
Total / 93 / 127 / 34 / 10 / 1 / 0 / 265 / 494
Director owned sales, demolitions and lease hand-backs for 2015–16
Table29: East Division Director owned sales, demolitions and lease hand-backs
Division and local area / Demolitions / Lease hand-backs / Sold / TotalGoulburn / 5 / 2 / 3 / 10
Inner Eastern Melbourne / 61 / 5 / 5 / 71
Outer Eastern Melbourne / 11 / 3 / 2 / 16
Ovens Murray / 4 / 0 / 4 / 8
East Total / 81 / 10 / 14 / 105
Table 30: North Division Director owned sales, demolitions and lease hand-backs
Division and local area / Demolitions / Lease hand-backs / Sold / TotalHume Moreland / 3 / 7 / 6 / 16
Loddon / 4 / 1 / 3 / 8
Mallee / 2 / 0 / 1 / 3
North Eastern Melbourne / 23 / 10 / 43 / 76
North Total / 32 / 18 / 53 / 103
Table 31: South Division Director owned sales, demolitions and lease hand-backs
Division and local area / Demolitions / Lease hand-backs / Sold / TotalBayside Peninsula / 70 / 35 / 6 / 111
Inner Gippsland / 4 / 0 / 8 / 12
Outer Gippsland / 1 / 0 / 5 / 6
Southern Melbourne / 18 / 5 / 4 / 27
South / 93 / 40 / 23 / 156
Table 32: West Division Director owned sales, demolitions and lease hand-backs