There was a strong view that brokerage loan funds
should not be used to assist clients out of arrears if
they fell behind as this would add to financial
pressures. Although there was recognition that
additional support may be needed for clients who
experience setbacks, particularly to avoid the
necessity of accessing pay day lenders. How
clients are managing their housing needs ongoing
monitoring. The flexible repayment system was
considered beneficial as it has allowed clients to
‘juggle’ competing expenses.
7.9
Stronger links with housing
providers
The Community Housing Sector is expected to
experience ongoing growth to become an
important alternative for affordable housing into
the future. Staff, external providers and clients
recognised the important role of community
housing, although at the same time recognising
that the options can be limited and there are often
time delays in gaining access and long waiting lists.
Nonetheless, as the program expands there will be
a need to develop stronger collaborative
partnerships with local community housing and
NRAS providers in the area as an alternative
housing option or to provide a pathway from
private rental into community housing if the
property becomes unaffordable. Brokerage
funding can be used to house clients quickly in the
private rental sector and once housed clients can
be further assessed to determine whether
community housing would be more suitable in the
longer-term and be supported whilst on a waiting
list.
Being able to help out with the rent in a
more ongoing way – it is a one off thing but
the rent difficulties can still persist – there
needs to be something else when you
come up short [Client interview]
I don’t think that they should provide a
loan to assist with arrears that could make
it quite tricky. Although the pay day
lending and loan sharks are a real problem
[External stakeholder].
Recommendation 9: Undertake periodic
reviews and follow up with tenants as a
condition of the loan agreement. This
includes seeking consent to liaise with real
estate agents to determine whether any
difficulties with rental payments have
occurred and how rental and loan
repayments can be renegotiated.
Recommendation 10: Explore options to
develop MoUs for referral protocols with
community housing providers for those who
have been assisted into a private rental
property but who will need to be relocated
to a longer-term affordable housing
arrangement.
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