Executive summary
This report presents findings from the evaluation of the Whittlesea Community Connections (WCC) pilot
Housing Brokerage and Support Project (HBSP). The evaluation of the pilot seeks to document the
emerging promising practices and the lessons learned by drawing on service activity data and qualitative
interviews with clients and external stakeholders, a staff focus group, and case study vignettes. The
evaluation also reviews the existing practice evidence base and demand for private rental support to
determine how the model can be further developed into the future.
WCC implemented the HBSP in 2013 to trial an
innovative response to the increasing number of
clients presenting to the service with experience of
long-term homelessness or who are at risk of
homelessness. Part of the motivation for
developing a local response involved an
appreciation of the difficulties faced by clients of
WCC in accessing timely housing support and
assistance from an overstretched housing support
sector. The overall goal of the project was to assist
low income households to gain access to and
stabilise their private rental housing through the
provision of brokerage no interest loans matched
with case management support.
significant risk to the funds invested or to the
clients in receipt of brokerage loans. From January
2013 to October 2014, a total of 136 clients
received housing information and referral whilst a
total of $17,925.30 has been loaned to 18
individuals.
The main client groups in receipt of brokerage
loans:
The HBSP combines elements of microfinance with
a model of private rental support. Microfinance
provides an alternative to pay day lending and
other high risk sources of credit and has
demonstrated promising outcomes in assisting
households towards greater financial inclusion.
Private rental support programs seek to overcome
the many barriers that low income households
face in gaining access to the private rental sector.
The existing evidence suggests that housing
outcomes tend to be superior when households
can be supported to remain in and transition from
one rental property to another and avoid entering
the homelessness service system where housing
needs become more difficult and costly to resolve
(AHIW 2013).
Are female, lone persons or lone parents,
and new arrivals to Australia.
Are all in receipt of Centrelink income
support.
Typically repay $20-50 per fortnight for 12
months.
Have an average of 8 contacts of case
management support.
Key findings on the promising practices within the
program that contributed to increased private
rental accessibility and support included:
As the proportion of affordable rental stock
declines relative to demand, private rental support
programs are becoming a vital element in the
package of housing assistance for low income
households. Demographic indicators for the City of
Whittlesea suggest that demand for private rental
support programs will continue to grow. The low
proportion of social housing stock in the area
means that households have little choice but to
rent in the private rental sector. The absence of
more affordable one to two bedroom properties in
the COW area exacerbates the affordability
problem.
The scope of the HBSP was modest at the outset to
allow WCC to trial its implementation without
iv
An integrated point of access through the
co-location of the program within the
broader range of services offered at WCC.
A flexible and collaborative approach to
loan management that can be matched
with existing resources to provide the
exact amount needed to gain entry into
the private rental market.
Case management support that provides
advocacy and skills building to negotiate
the private rental sector, including a
flexible and solution focused approach to
assessment to help households become
loan ready even if they are not eligible
upon first assessment.