Contents
1 Introduction and service context ........................................................................................... 1
1.1 Rationale and origins of the model ......................................................................................... 1
1.2 Evaluation method .................................................................................................................. 1
1.3 Structure of the report............................................................................................................ 2
2 Extending principles of microfinance to private rental support .............................................. 3
2.1 Microfinance as a pathway to financial inclusion ................................................................... 3
2.2 A microfinance gap in private rental support? ....................................................................... 4
3 Barriers to accessing the private rental sector ....................................................................... 5
3.1 A shifting benchmark of what is affordable and secure? ....................................................... 5
3.2 Discrimination and selective sorting ....................................................................................... 6
3.3 The growing need for private rental support programs in the City of Whittlesea ................. 6
4 The program model in practice ............................................................................................. 9
4.1 Numbers assisted and amount of brokerage provided ........................................................ 12
4.2 Approach to case management support .............................................................................. 15
5 Client and stakeholder perspectives on program practices ................................................... 15
5.1 Promising practices for rental accessibility and support ...................................................... 15
5.2 Client satisfaction with the quality of support ..................................................................... 21
5.3 Lessons learned for private rental support programs .......................................................... 22
6 Client and stakeholder perspectives on service impact ........................................................ 26
6.1 Overcoming the reasons for seeking assistance ................................................................... 26
6.2 Longer-term housing stability ............................................................................................... 30
7 Conclusions and recommendations for future program development .................................. 34
7.1 Expansion of the brokerage capacity .................................................................................... 34
7.2 Increased capacity for tenancy support outreach ................................................................ 35
7.3 Governance ........................................................................................................................... 35
7.4 Client capacity building beyond the loan.............................................................................. 36
7.5 Strengthening collaborative relationships with real estate agents. ..................................... 36
7.6 Financial incentives for landlords ......................................................................................... 36
7.7 Housing affordability............................................................................................................. 37
7.8 Assistance to sustain tenancies ............................................................................................ 37
7.9 Stronger links with housing providers .................................................................................. 38
8 References ......................................................................................................................... 39
9 Appendices.........................................................................................................................