What is Community Housing?

Public housing is owned and managed by the State Government. Community housing is managed (and possibly owned) by not-for-profit organisations. Together, public and community housing is known as social housing.

Whilst both seek to accommodate those who are facing housing stress, community housing organisations can also specialise in assisting specific groups, such as those with a disability, the elderly, women, survivors of domestic violence, and people from non-English speaking backgrounds.

Community housing tenants are also eligible to receive Commonwealth Rental Assistance (CRA), whilst public housing tenants are not. This is reflective of the fact that public housing already benefits from State funding.

Community housing can play a range of roles in relieving people from housing stress. The core business of most community housing organisations is long-term housing.

This is rental housing that:

• Is offered to eligible low -income applicants
• Is at a rent which is within affordability benchmarks
• Offers the tenant security of tenure, so long as tenancy conditions are met.

Some community housing organisations can also provide:

• Crisis housing: temporary emergency accommodation for periods of around 14 days
• Transitional Housing: a stepping stone to long-term housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Community housing organisations seek to provide housing that is well-integrated within the wider community and matched to tenant’s needs.

It may include:

• Freestanding houses and townhouses
• Apartments in multi-unit developments, including developments that mix private market and community housing
• Rooming house accommodation
• Accommodation linked to particular support programs

In addition to expanding the diversity and range of rental housing available to people on low incomes, community housing organisations also have a strong track record in:

• Tailoring housing and services to tenants’ needs
• Involving tenants in decisions that affect them
• Establishing strong links with local service providers to sustain tenancies
• Integrating housing within local communities

To be offered a tenancy in community housing, households must meet the SA government’s eligibility criteria. These are the same for both public housing and community housing and include income, asset and residency requirements.

Your Place Housing provides long-term secure housing for a diverse range of people on low to moderate incomes.

We offer a range of housing options including:

• General Community Housing
• Affordable Housing (NRAS)
• Supported Disability Housing
• Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)

We provide housing to:

• People living with a disability
• The elderly
• People who are socially marginalised

We aim to meet the housing needs of a diverse range of tenants, some of whom require support to maintain a sustainable tenancy. We do this by working in partnership with your support provider.

In addition to a portfolio of houses for general tenants, YourPlace Housing has a focus on the provision of modified houses for people with disability.

The Community Housing Customer Register (CHCR) has been established as the single register for all people seeking community housing.

• You only need to register once to be registered with all Community housing providers.
• Registrations for Community housing can be accepted by any Community Housing Provider.
• Housing SA will accept a single registration for both public and community housing

If you wish to register for community housing you must provide:

• a completed community housing registration form (insert link form)
• acceptable proof of income and proof of ID
• a Housing Needs Assessment Form completed by a suitable person (insert link to form)
• all relevant documents to support your registration

When we receive your Registration of Interest and supporting documents, we will assess your application against the community housing eligibility criteria. If you are eligible, we will enter your details on to the Community Housing Customer Register (CHCR).

Once you are registered, your details are available to any community housing provider in South Australia for which you meet their individual eligibility criteria. This means you could be contacted or offered a tenancy by a provider that is not YourPlace Housing. You may exclude particular providers from accessing your registration details should you wish to do so.

Based on the information you provide you will be assigned a category of housing need, category 1, 2 or 3, (with category 1 being the greatest).

After registration, a confirmation letter will be sent to you, or your nominated contact or support worker confirming your customer number, registration number and housing need category.

You may be asked to undertake housing needs assessment if you have not already done so.

We will contact you if a suitable vacancy arises that matches your housing preference.

It is important that you keep your contact details up to date so we can get in touch with you if a property becomes available. Housing is in limited supply, so please ensure you keep exploring all housing options.

If your circumstances change after you have registered, it is your responsibility to let us know. Changes to your phone number and address can be done over the phone. Any other changes such as urgency of housing needs, area of preference, household members, support worker etc. must be done in writing via a ‘Change of Circumstances Form’.

• Change of Circumstances Form: Download PDF [356kb]

You can browse the other community housing providers in SA here.

Due to high demands for public and community housing rental properties, we always encourage people to look at all housing options.

YourPlace Housing does not offer emergency or short term accommodation. If you are in need of emergency housing please call the Homeless Gateway Service on 1800 003 308.