ACCORD makes a Submission

ACCORD has made a submission to the Inquiry into Community Housing being conducted by the Standing Committee on Social Issues of the NSW Legislative Assembly.

The Standing Committee is currently holding hearings into community housing in NSW. The Committee will report on government-funded community housing, including the role of the sector in providing accommodation within the social housing system. The inquiry is being conducted as requested by the Deputy Premier and Minister of Housing, Hon Dr Andrew Refshauge. The Committee will present a final report to the Legislative Council by 7 November 2002.

The Social Issues Committee of the Legislative Council was established to report from time to time on any proposal or matters concerned with the social development of people in NSW.

The Terms of Reference for the Inquiry include assessing the effectiveness of the community housing sector in meeting the needs of its clients in a responsive and efficient manner and the relative effectiveness of large and small community housing providers in providing accommodation to their clients.

Appropriate models for community housing in rural, regional and metropolitan New South Wales is also being examined. Additionally, the role and operation of community housing or related models in other States would be studied with a view to better inform future strategies and develop best practice within the sector in NSW. Other areas include: adequacy and effectiveness of training and support available; current management and operational policies and practices, their efficacy and transparency; and the adequacy of current reporting and regulatory frameworks in ensuring corporate governance and accountability.

Two Community Housing Inquiry hearings have been held on Tuesday 12 February 2002 and Wednesday 13 February 2002. At these hearings, representatives of the NSW Department of Housing, Office of Community Housing, Association of Resource Cooperative Housing (ARCH), Housing Appeals Committee, NSW Federation of Housing Associations and Macarthur Urban Frontiers Program were scheduled make submissions.

Submissions to the Inquiry, which can be lodged on-line, close on 15 February 2002.

A further hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, 16 April 2002 at the New South Wales Parliament, Macquarie Street, Sydney. To obtain more details, click on http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au and follow the link on Inquiry into Community Housing.