PolicyManaging Access to Housing Tasmania PropertiesSDMS ID Number P2012/0178-034SDMS Title Managing Access to Housing Tasmania Properties – Policy –

P2012/0178-034Effective From 15 June 2015Applies to All Housing Tasmania clientsCustodian Manager Housing StrategySummary This policy outlines the overarching process used to connect

clients in need of housing assistance with Housing Tasmania properties.

Replaces Doc. No. n/aAuthor Area Housing Strategy – Social and Affordable Housing Policy UnitContact Manager, Housing StrategyReview Date June 2018

Policy Intent This policy provides an overview on the process used to connect applicants in need of housing assistance with Housing Tasmania properties. Housing Tasmania properties are limited and valuable resources which are allocated to those clients who most need it for their duration of need.Clients have their housing assistance and support need assessed through Housing Connect. From this assessment, there is a four step process for connecting clients with Housing Tasmania properties:

Step 1: Establishing eligibility for Housing Tasmania (Housing Tasmania Eligibility Policy and Procedures);

Step 2: Establishing entitlement and level of housing need (General or Priority) (Housing Assessment Prioritisation System Policy and; Bedroom Entitlement Policy and Procedure; and Proof of Identity Policy);

Step 3: Allocation review to confirm the application details have not changed from the assessment with Housing Connect, including confirmation the client’s income and assets are within the Housing Tasmania threshold for allocating properties. (Allocation Review Policy); and

Step 4: Allocating an appropriate property (Matching and Offering a Property to a Client Policy and Procedure).

Application This policy applies to all applicants applying for housing assistance with Housing Tasmania through Housing Connect.

Role of Housing Connect

Appropriate, safe and secure housing together with support assists to stabilise the lives of clients with a housing assistance need. Stable housing also helps support families and assists re-entry into community life, education, and employment.Housing Connect provides integrated housing and support services with the aim of supporting clients to retain their tenancy or improving access to longer term stable housing.Housing Connect is a one stop shop where housing and support needs can be assessed and coordinated. Housing Connect aims to assist clients to out of crisis accommodation or off the streets into long term affordable accommodation as quickly as possible.Housing Connect provides information about available support

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options based on clients assessed needs. Referrals will be made with consent and followed up to make sure clients receive the support they need. Further information can be found in the Referral Policy.

Role of Housing Providers

Generally, housing providers are responsible for the allocation of properties and ongoing tenancy and property management functions.Individual housing providers (including Housing Tasmania) have their own eligibility policies which may have different eligibility criteria and/or different property matching criteria to meet their specific program objectives or funding agreements. Clients may choose to receive offers for properties managed by community housing providers and/or Housing Tasmania. To be housed, the eligibility criteria must be met for each of their chosen housing provider/sIn some locations, there may only be one social housing provider able to meet specific needs in which case, clients may not be able to choose their preferred social housing provider.

Client Information To ensure the property features match the applicants assessed need, there is an expectation that the information provided is accurate and current.Accurate and current information is critical for all housing providers to ensure appropriate and efficient allocation of vacant properties.

Changes to Circumstances

Clients need to contact Housing Connect if there has been a change to their situation. This is because such changes may impact property entitlements or change a client’s level of housing need.In situations where there has been a change to the applicant’s situation (a household member on the application has moved out, or has developed a serious health condition for example an applicant may no longer be entitled to certain property amenities and features, such as number of bedrooms or specific modifications.Housing Tasmania aims to offer suitable properties to applicants with the greatest assessed need and house them for their duration of need.

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Having accurate applicant information will assist Housing Tasmania to be responsive to applicant need in a timely way.

Status of applications

Applicants applying for housing assistance through Housing Connect may have an active or suspended application. This will depend on the individual circumstances relating to the application.Active applications with Housing Tasmania are those where eligibility and need (i.e. General or Priority housing need) has been established. Active applications can receive a housing offer from their nominated housing providers.An eligible applicant that has chosen to receive housing offers from Housing Tasmania may be suspended. These applicants may have met eligibility criteria but are temporarily removed from the active waiting list due to:

A former debt as per the Outstanding Charges Policy The applicant has a history of behaviour issues and/or

poor condition of property and a suspension period is required

The applicant has requested temporary removal from the active waiting list for example, as a result of hospitalisation (in this instance the maximum suspension will not be greater than 6 months)

The applicant who is in medium term transitional housing can be suspended until the organisation and the applicant are confident they are ready for an independent tenancy. If suspended for this reason, the arrangement will be reviewed on a 6 monthly basis.

Non-eligibility for Housing Tasmania

There are situations where applicants need for assistance and support may not meet the threshold for Housing Tasmania to allocate properties including:

if the clients housing need is assessed and they do not meet the Housing Tasmania Eligibility criteria

the clients housing application is not assessed as having a General or Priority housing need (under the Housing Assessment Prioritisation System)

where a client has previous outstanding charges with Housing Tasmania or does not acknowledge the debt and the client refuses to sign a debt agreement (where exceptional need has not been cited) or a resolution is not in process

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where the client has made no effort to repay an outstanding debt or had defaulted on a debt agreement arrangement and despite contact, has not resumed payments with Housing Tasmania

where the client has rejected one reasonable offer of housing with Housing Tasmania

where the client does not respond to a reasonable offer from Housing Tasmania in the specified timeframe

where the client repeatedly fails to respond to attempts by Housing Tasmania to contact them for the purpose of completing an allocation review for the offer of housing

where the client accepts an offer of housing with Housing Tasmania but does not sign the tenancy agreement

where the client leaves Tasmania for longer than three months

where the client’s housing need has not met Housing Tasmania’s eligibility criteria following an allocation review with Housing Tasmania, and

where a written request by the applicant to remove the application from the Housing Tasmania waitlist. Proof of Identity will be required to do this.

Discretion Discretion may be applied by Housing Connect to an application for housing assistance and/or support at the time of assessment.Housing Tasmania Area Managers have the discretion to make decisions in cases where the policy does not effectively apply. The decision must be documented and placed on file.

Breaches of Previous Tenancies

Where an applicant has had previous tenancy breaches, they may relate to the condition of the property or anti-social behaviour. Where there is documented history of substantiated previous breaches of a Housing Tasmania Tenancy Agreement, It may be appropriate to offer the client a shorter fixed term Tenancy Agreement.

Legal Framework This Policy adheres to the Residential Tenancy Act 1997 where

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relevant.

Exemptions n/a

Responsibilities/ Delegations

All Housing Operations staff are responsible for ensuring the appropriate application of the policy. Area Managers are responsible for policy application.

Disclaimer This is a statewide policy and must not be re-interpreted so that subordinate policies exist. Should discrete operational differences exist, these should be expressed in the form of an operating procedure or protocol that must be approved at the same level as this policy.

Audit and Compliance

Failure to comply with this policy, without providing a good reason for doing so, may lead to disciplinary action.Compliance with this policy, without providing a good reason for doing so may lead to disciplinary action.

Procedures and Forms

Consent to share client information

Related Policies Consent to Share Client Information PolicyAllocation Interview with Housing Tasmania PolicyEligibility for Housing Tasmania properties PolicyHousing Assessment Prioritisation System PolicyMatching and Offering a Property to a Client PolicyReferral Policy

Policy Title and Version Managing Access to Housing Tasmania Properties 2.0Effective Date 15 June 2015Review Date June 2018Document Number P2012/0178-034Replaces Document Number

n/a

Custodian Housing Tasmania, Social and Affordable Housing PolicyApproved by Manager Housing Strategy

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This Policy may be varied, withdrawn or replaced at any time. Compliance with this directive is mandatory for the Department of Health and Human Services. Please Destroy Printed Copies. The electronic version of this Policy is the approved and current version and is located on the Agency’s intranet. Any printed version is uncontrolled and therefore not current.

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