The Housing for Workers initiative seeks to provide a quick and targeted investment into NGO housing in high-cost regional locations to sustain the delivery of key State Government funded NGO services and:
- Prevent the withdrawal of key community services through the provision of affordable housing to NGO employees involved in the delivery of State Government programs;
- Support the social well-being and sustainability of regional communities by enabling NGOs to deliver valuable services in a sustainable manner;
- Enhance the stability of NGOs by providing their employees with access to affordable housing; and
- Be consistent with the Affordable Housing Strategy, to explore and trial options that facilitate new types of housing models for people currently under serviced in the traditional housing market in high cost locations.
The initiative is funded by the Royalties for Regions Fund and will deliver 58 houses in priority Pilbara and Kimberley locations, including Karratha, Newman, South Hedland, Kununurra, Derby, Roebourne, Halls Creek and Broome.
Eligibility
Eligible Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) are invited to apply for employee housing in any of the above locations.
To be eligible, organisations must be:
- A registered not-for-profit, non-government organisation
- Contracted and funded by the State Government to provide specific services to a location that meets the location eligibility criteria above
- Able to demonstrate that the provision or expansion of services is being detrimentally affected by the lack of housing
- Generating local employment of at least 1 full time position consisting of a minimum of 30 hours per week
- Providing services to the broader community rather than primarily to the resource sector
- Willing to require their employees to provide full disclosure of household members as part of employee housing applications.
The new homes will be leased to NGOs at a discounted rate to support the social wellbeing and sustainability of regional communities by ensuring that NGOs can continue to provide their important services.
Applications for the NGO housing will be assessed by an independent panel chaired by the Department of Housing with panel members from the Pilbara and Kimberley Development Commissions and an independent academic nominated by WACOSS.
Applications close 9 September 2011.