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HOUSING AUTHORITY

Community Disability Housing Program Policy

10 November 2011

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CONTENTS

DEFINITIONS ..................................................................................................................................................... 2

PURPOSE ............................................................................................................................................................. 4

STRATEGIC INTENT....................................................................................................................................... 4

BACKGROUND .................................................................................................................................................. 5

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR APPLICANTS ......................................................................................... 6

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR HOUSING ORGANISATIONS .......................................................... 7

THE CDHP APPLICATION PROCESS ...................................................................................................... 7

LEGAL AND POLICY FRAMEWORK ........................................................................................................ 8

SUPPORT AND ADVICE ................................................................................................................................ 8

REVIEW ................................................................................................................................................................ 8

AUTHORISATION ............................................................................................................................................ 9

ATTACHMENT ONE ...................................................................................................................................... 10

ATTACHMENT TWO .................................................................................................................................... 11

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DEFINITIONS

Affordable Housing

Housing that is affordable for households in lower or middle parts of the

income scale. This includes owner occupied as well as rental housing that is

owned by government, not-for-profit organisations, individuals and

corporations.

Community Housing Organisation

Community housing organisations provide housing to people on a low to

moderate income at a rent which is often cheaper than in the private market.

Disability

A disability may be intellectual, psychiatric, cognitive, neurological, sensory or

physical which is:

permanent or likely to be permanent;

may or may not be of a chronic or episodic nature; and result in,

a substantially reduced capacity of the person for communication,

social interaction, learning or mobility; and

a need for continuing support services.

Housing Provider

A non-government organisation which manages a Community Disability

Housing Program property leased from the Housing Authority.

Public Housing

Subsidised rental housing that is owned and operated by the

Housing Authority in Western Australia.

Social Housing

Dwellings which households on low incomes can afford to rent, while meeting

other essential living costs. It includes public housing and community housing.

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Support Provider

A non-government organisation or a specialist government agency such as

the Disability Services Commission which provides support services to a

person occupying a Community Disability Housing Program property.

Transitional Housing

Supported housing for up to 12 months for people exiting specified alcohol

and other drug residential treatment services who are homeless or at risk of

homelessness.

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PURPOSE This policy provides a high level summary of the Community Disability Housing Program (CDHP).

STRATEGIC INTENT People with high support needs due to disability, mental illness or alcohol and other drug issues often face major barriers to living as independently as possible. CDHP provides long term and transitional housing for people assessed by Disability Services Commission (DSC) or the Mental Health Commission (MHC) as unable to live independently in the community without a package of ongoing support funding. The Drug and Alcohol Office (DAO) also works closely with the Housing Authority to provide short term housing and support people transitioning back to the community following treatment for alcohol and other drug use.

THE AIM OF THE CDHP

The aim of the CDHP is:

... to assist people with a high need for supported housing due to disability, mental illness or alcohol and drug issues to live in the community by providing housing and packages of ongoing support funding. Both transitional and long term supported housing is provided.

THE CDHP PRINCIPLES

The following principles summarise the elements of the CDHP:

CDHP focuses on person-centred arrangements CDHP aims to provide the most appropriate housing option for individuals by matching their housing needs, support needs and social and financial circumstances.

Where possible, a range of options will be considered for CDHP applicants. These include CDHP housing (both long term and transitional), shared equity

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housing options, assistance through the Access Home Loan Scheme, private rental and home ownership. These options do not include crisis housing.

CDHP is based on partnership and coordination between:

- government agencies, primarily the Housing Authority, DSC, DAO and MHC.

- government agencies and community housing organisations.

- government agencies and support providers.

- support providers and community housing organisations.

In recognition of how critical this is to the effectiveness of CDHP, the program is implemented in ways which reflect each Department’s policies, priorities and relationship with non-government sector partners. CDHP is targeted at people in high need of supported housing CDHP is a limited resource provided to people with the greatest need for the duration of that need.

High need of supported housing refers to an individual who is allocated ongoing support funding to assist them to live as independently as possible in the community and assessed as a priority for housing. Reasons for this may be:

living in an inappropriate setting such as a nursing home, hospital or with ageing carers;

homelessness or risk of homelessness; or

the applicant is unable to access to support package funding until appropriate accommodation is obtained.

Transitional supported housing for people exiting alcohol and other drug treatment services will provide a short term option. Support providers will work with clients prior to discharge from the residential service, provide support for the duration of their stay and assist them to achieve long term, sustainable housing.

BACKGROUND CDHP is specifically for people assessed by DSC, MHC and DAO as having a need for support funding and housing.

These agencies:

assess and refer priority applicants for CDHP housing;

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provide funding packages to CDHP applicants that allow for on-going support to be provided by non-government organisations or specialist government agencies.

Note that support funding provided through DAO is time limited because the

housing is transitional and the funding is provided to support providers rather

than individual clients.

The Housing Authority:

construct or purchase housing for lease to housing providers through the CDHP.

In conjunction with non-government organisations the Government agencies

will:

implement, monitor and review CDHP and plan for the future housing

needs of CDHP individuals; and,

educate and assist community housing providers and support providers

regarding CDHP policies and processes.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR APPLICANTS Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria for social housing AND for the

CDHP.

To be eligible for social housing you must:

be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

live in Western Australia and receive your income here.

not own or part own property or land.

be able to prove identity.

be aged 16 years or older.

sign a tenancy agreement, agreeing to tenancy obligations including

property standards, paying rent and being a good neighbour (NB a

legal guardian may sign the tenancy agreement).

Consistent with a person centred approach, ownership of property or land

may not necessarily disqualify a person for CDHP housing, including

transitional housing, if sale of the asset cannot be realised. Applications will

be assessed by the Housing Authority on a case by case basis.

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Further information about the eligibility criteria can be accessed at:

http://www.housing.wa.gov.au/housingoptions/rentaloptions/publichousing/elig

ibility/Pages/default.aspx

ADDITIONAL CDHP CRITERIA

For CDHP, applicants must also meet the following criteria:

be referred by DSC or MHC due to housing need and have adequate

support services in place for the duration of the tenancy before housing

is allocated.

not exceed the community housing income and asset limits for a

person with a disability at the time of application and when offered a

property (see Attachment 1).

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR HOUSING

ORGANISATIONS CDHP properties are leased to not for profit housing providers for a period of

up to ten years.

To be eligible to lease CDHP housing an organisation must be:

a Community Housing Organisation (CHO) registered with the

Housing Authority or eligible to be considered for registration.

a local government authority.

a non-government agency which manages fewer than ten properties or

which is primarily a support provider to individuals who are eligible for

CDHP housing.

THE CDHP APPLICATION PROCESS The application forms are titled ‘Request for Housing Combined Capital Bid

Community Disability Housing Program’ and:

are submitted through the DSC and MHC.

must identify the support provider agency and detail the nature of the

ongoing support provided to the individual.

Please note that DAO does not submit individual CDHP applications.

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The Housing Authority prefers separate agencies to be responsible for

housing management and support provision. However, with the Housing

Authority’s approval, support providers may also take on housing

management functions.

These agencies are encouraged to formalise this partnership via a

Memorandum of Understanding or other agreement developed in consultation

with DSC, MHC or DAO.

When a community housing provider has not been identified for an applicant,

the Housing Authority

may nominate a CHO to take on this role or ,

provide property management itself, at the discretion of the relevant

Housing Authority’s Regional Manager and the Contract Management

Area.

LEGAL AND POLICY FRAMEWORK Relevant documents for applicants and organisations wanting to know more

about the CDHP are:

Housing Act 1980

Disability Services Act 1993

Mental Health Act 1996

The Affordable Housing Strategy 2010-2020 Opening Doors to Affordable

Housing

The Department of Housing Rental Policy Manual at

http://www.housing.wa.gov.au/aboutus/strategyandpolicy/PolicyDocumentatio

n/Pages/default.aspx

CDHP Lease Agreement

SUPPORT AND ADVICE Manager Housing Policy Access and Demand (9222 4980)

REVIEW August 2012.

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AUTHORISATION Version Authorised by Effective Date Sections modified if applicable

(X.X) (Position

Title)

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ATTACHMENT ONE GUIDE TO ASSESSING FINANCIAL CAPACITY FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY (current at 19 August 2011)

Gross weekly income

PUBLIC HOUSING (1)

COMMUNITY HOUSING (2)

Metro / Country North West / Remote Metro / Country North West / Remote

Single income

Dual income household

Single income Dual income household

Single income Dual income household

Single income Dual income household

1 person $540 - $760 - $1,060 - $1,325 -

2 people $725 $1,025 $1,025 $1,180 - $1,465 - $1,835

3 people $870 $1,000 $1,225 $1,400 - $1,870 - $2,340

4 people $1,020 $1,160 $1,440 $1,650 - $2,280 - $2,847

(1) If there are more than four people (adults and or children) in the household, add $115 per week for an additional person and $145 for an additional person with a disability.

(2) The community housing income limits illustrated are for adults. If the household includes children, the income limits will be lower. Asset limit for people with a disability

Household type Asset limit for Community Disability Housing Program clients

Public housing Community housing

For homeowners For non-homeowners

Single

Up to $100,000

$186,750 Up to $321,750

Partnered (combined) $265,000 Up to $400,000 Couple but separated due to illness (combined) $265,000

One partner eligible $265,000

The asset limit is defined as:

a lump sum cash or investment which is easily accessible to a person to be used for any purpose. The cash may be received in a number of ways including inheritance, a compensation payment or a gift or savings.

cash or an investment placed in a trust account for the sole purpose of purchasing care services for care needs and or generating income will be deducted from the cash asset limit to determine the assessable cash asset limit. (This sheet is provided for information purposes only. Determination of financial capacity will be undertaken by the Housing Authority)

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GUIDE TO ASSESSING FINANCIAL CAPACITY FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY (current at 19 August 2011) Examples of documentation accepted by the Housing Authority as evidence of income and assets relevant to Community Disability Housing Program (CDHP) clients: Evidence of income For CDHP clients primarily 1 or 2:

1. Income Statement from Centrelink 2. Income Statement from Public Trustees 3. Previous years tax assessment from the Taxation Office

For people other than CDHP clients, additional information may be required. Evidence of assets

1. Most recent bank statements 2. Investment or shares statements 3. Details of property or land owned.

(This sheet is provided for information purposes only. Determination of financial capacity will be undertaken by the Housing Authority)

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ATTACHMENT TWO

The Combined Capital Bid / Community Disability Housing Program Application Process