Welcome to Housing & Community Services ACT

Housing & Community Services ACT is a division of the Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services. The area is responsible for the provision of public housing and community services in the Territory.

The organisation allocates, manages and maintains more than 11,000 public and community housing properties. It also coordinates comprehensive support services and community participation programs for its tenants.

More broadly, Housing & Community Services ACT provides support for people who are disadvantaged or experiencing a crisis. It does this through a variety of programs, including the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) that assists people experiencing homelessness. If you wish to comment on the content, presentation or functionality of this web-site, please go to our feedback page.

Current Issues

Joint Champions Tenant Participation Group – Call for applications

Housing ACT is calling for interested Housing ACT tenants to apply for membership of the Joint Champions Tenant Participation Group.

The Joint Champions Group (JCG) was established in 2005 and comprises public housing tenants and Housing ACT staff who meet regularly to provide feedback on Housing ACT issues. It provides tenants with an opportunity to take part in and manage activities that contribute to the planning and delivery of housing services in the ACT.

Tenants from a range of backgrounds including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, young people, older people and people from culturally diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Current members are welcome to re-apply.

If you are energetic, have an interest in public housing issues, enjoy working with others and meeting new people, you could be an ideal Champion.

Interested tenants should complete the Joint Champions Group Application Form which includes a brief statement expressing your interest to participate in the JCG, and forward it to Housing ACT by close of business 26 June 2009.

Joint Champions Group Application Form 86KB
Joint Champions Group Application Form 125KB

Your application should be mailed to:
Joint Champions Group Secretariat
Housing ACT
Locked Bag 3000
BELCONNEN ACT 2616

If you would like to discuss the JCG with a current Joint Champions Group member, require further information, or need assistance preparing your application form, please telephone Housing ACT on 6207 5098 or 6207 1507 or e-mail eleanor.waight@act.gov.au or michelle.anderson@act.gov.au.

Feasibility Study for Homeless Drop-In Centre Released

In 2004 the ACT Government allocated $254,000 over three years to establish and operate a Drop-In Centre at Pilgrim Place, Canberra City, for people experiencing homelessness. Operated by the Canberra City Uniting Church, the service became known as the Early Morning Centre (EMC), and is open from 7.00 am -11.00 am, Monday to Friday, to provide breakfast, office facilities, mail collection facilities and general support and referral.

In June 2007 the Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services commissioned Purdon and Associates to undertake a feasibility study into a possible expansion of services provided by the Early Morning Centre. The feasibility study was also to identify strategies to ensure the Government is adequately responding to the needs of people who are homeless, including the development of a service model for addressing the needs of “rough sleepers”.
Among the findings of the report were that.

The Early Morning Centre fulfils a unique role in supporting people who are homeless. The drop-in service provides one-on-one support and referrals. Other food services do not provide this support to the demographic of the EMC users; and
The service provides support to people who are sleeping rough, who may not have been able to access accommodation or other supports.
In acknowledging the important role that the Early Morning Centre plays, the ACT Government, in November 2007, announced $789,000 over four years in extra funding to enable the continuation and expansion services provided by the Drop-In Centre.
Feasibility Study Report 619KB
Feasibility Study Report 13MB

ACT Homelessness Charter - A Statement of Rights

On Tuesday 29 April 2008, the Minister for Disability and Community Services Ms Katy Gallagher MLA launched the ACT Homelessness Charter to increase community, government and service recognition of the rights of Canberrans who are experiencing homelessness.

Representatives of the homelessness services sector also launched the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program Service Guarantee.

Ms Gallagher said the ACT Homelessness Charter focused broad principles while the Service Guarantee set out what people can expect from homelessness service providers and clearly defined the services and support available.

“The charter acknowledges that peole who are experiencing homelessness have the same basic human rights afforded to the entire community,” she said.

“It recognises that the right to inclusion, dignity, respect, non-discrimination, safety and freedom, are particularly important to people experiencing homelessness”.

ACT Homelessness Charter 181KB

SAAP Service Guarantee 23KB
SAAP Service Guarantee 14KB

Gallery of launch ceremony


Representatives	Maureen Sheehan	The Jumping Gateway

Winsome Willow	Dr Helen Watchirs	Ms Katy Gallagher MLA

Gerald Franks

Community Linkages Tenant Initiated Grants - Tenants take the Initiative with Grants

A food co-operative for low income Canberrans on the south side was among projects unveiled by Minister for Housing John Hargreaves on 11 September 2008, as part of Housing ACT’s Tenant Initiated Grants program.

Twenty six interesting projects, to be delivered by Housing ACT tenants over the coming months, are set to benefit many in the community, Mr Hargreaves said.
“The projects are funded by Tenant Initiated Grants under Housing ACT’s Community Linkages Program,” he said.

“Each year Housing ACT awards grants to tenants under the initiative in order to link public and community housing tenants to a range of support services, and to reduce poverty and isolation by fostering a stronger sense of community.

“Recently, 26 public and community housing tenants were approved for grants in the 2007-08 Tenant Initiated Grant round.

“The grants are for up to $5000 each, and have been used to fund a range of projects including community gardens, two choirs, a children’s fun group and a food cooperative for low income people on Canberra’s south side.

“However, the grant projects don’t happen by themselves.

“There needs to be people with a good idea, the wherewithal to search out and apply for grants and the drive to make it happen.

“The ACT Government looks forward to seeing the community and personal growth as well as the goodwill bound to be generated by the projects to be undertaken by tenants as part of this initiative.

“These tenants provide an example of the great things that can be achieved when people have a sense of community and the motivation to make a difference.”

List of grants approved for 2007/2008 18KB
List of grants approved for 2007/2008 34KB

Housing Now

"Housing NOW" is a new initiative that allows eligible public housing applicants the opportunity to choose their new home from a range of properties ready for immediate allocation.

Occasionally, properties become available because they are not suitable for applicants next on the list with special needs. Housing NOW enables public housing applicants who are further down the list to view these properties. They can do this by lodging an Expression of Interest with Housing ACT.

More Information 57KB
More Information 51KB

Expression of Interest form 46KB
Expression of Interest form 23KB

Public Housing Reforms

Changes to public housing tenure arrangements announced by the Government in April 2007 are being progressively developed and implemented. Public Housing Reforms

Joint Champions Group

The Joint Champions Group, established in 2005, provides tenants with an opportunity to take part in and manage activities that contribute to the planning and delivery of housing services in the ACT. The Group comprises public housing tenants and Housing ACT staff and meets every six weeks to discuss a program of tenant participation activities and to represent tenants’ interests by advocating on their behalf on a range of housing issues.

The Group has a diverse membership of tenants from a range of backgrounds including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, young people, older people and people from culturally diverse backgrounds.

If you want further information or have any suggestions you want to make, you can send an e-mail to the Group at jointchampions@act.gov.au

Redevelopment of Lyons Estate

ACT Ministerial Housing Consumer Forum and Housing Summit Added 15.02.06
A Consumer Forum and Housing Summit is being held to assist government to define housing priorities, promote social equity and facilitate industry and community involvement in the formulation of future strategies to meet the housing needs and aspirations of the Canberra community.

Breaking the Cycle - The ACT Homelessness Strategy

The Youth Homelessness Action Plan, and Breaking the Cycle - the ACT Homelessness Strategy, provide a policy framework to guide the Government's response to youth homelessness.

Youth Homelessness Action Plan 46KB
Youth Homelessness Action Plan 58KB

Breaking the Cycle - The ACT Homelessness Strategy

Progress on Affordable Housing in the ACT

Progress on Affordable Housing in the ACT: Report to the ACT Legislative Assembly 504KB