Program specifications - Community rent scheme (CRS)

2.1 "Allowable Expenditure" for the purposes of the CRS Program means the following expenditure:

1. in relation to Housing Management Funding, as detailed in the Assistance Agreement:
   1. salary oncosts (see clause 10)
   2. office rental and other office requirements
   3. travel costs
   4. training costs
   5. insurance.
2. in relation to Property Management Funding, as detailed in the Assistance Agreement:
   1. rental costs for the number of dwellings detailed in the Assistance Agreement
   2. repairs, arrears and vacancy costs
   3. funds for future commitments as agreed between the Provider and the Department
   4. insurance costs and reasonable legal expenses
   5. other expenses as agreed in writing by the Department and the Provider.

2.2 "Applicant" means any person seeking a Housing Service from the Provider.

2.3 "Assistance Agreement" means an assistance agreement as defined by the Act entered into between the Department and the Provider.

2.4 "Common Eligibility Criteria" means the Department of Communities (Housing and Homelessness Services) Common Eligibility Criteria for housing assistance under the One Social Housing System as provided by the Department from time to time.

2.6 "Dwelling" means a self-contained form of residential accommodation.

2.5 "CRS" and "Program" means the Community Rent Scheme Program administered by the Department.

2.6 "Eligible Persons" means those persons who:

1. meet the Common Eligibility Criteria
2. have a very high or high and urgent need for housing assistance
3. are approved applicants on the Department's Housing Register.

2.7 "Enquirer" means a person who enquires about a Housing Service.

2.8 "Housing Register" means the Department's wait list of Eligible Persons for Housing Services.

2.9 "Housing Service" means the provision of accommodation and/or services as defined in the Act.

2.10 "Objectives" means the objectives of the Program, as described in clause 5.3.

2.11 "One Social Housing System" means the integrated system for the provision of all Housing Services funded by the Department.

2.12 "Program Specification" means this document and includes any amended, additional or replacement CRS Program Specifications notified to the Provider in accordance with the Assistance Agreement.

2.13 "Provider" means the party to the Assistance Agreement (other than the State) being a registered provider in accordance with the Act, and where the context allows, extends to and includes its successors in title and assigns.

2.14 "Receipts" means receipts as defined by the Regulation.

2.15 "Regulation" means the Housing Regulation 2003.

2.16 "Tenant" means an Eligible Person or persons to whom the Provider grants occupation rights to the Property.

3.1 all words and phrases have the same meaning as in the Assistance Agreement and the rules of interpretation of the Assistance Agreement apply to the interpretation of the Program Specification; and

3.2 this Program Specification shall be read as if it were part of the Assistance Agreement.

4.1 The Department through the CRS gives assistance to Providers to deliver transitional housing assistance to Eligible Persons, which is used as a transition to longer term social housing or other secure housing options. The Department may give assistance through funding Providers to lease properties from the private rental market, or through leasing Department-owned property to Providers.

4.2 Providers under the CRS will operate as part of the One Social Housing System.

4.3 The Provider must comply with the Objectives of the CRS.

4.4 Providers under the CRS must be accredited as specified in section 8A of the Regulation.

5.1 Where funds come from

CRS is a State funded program.

5.2 Administration

CRS is administered by Social Housing Programs, Department of Communities (Housing and Homelessness Services).

5.3 Objectives

Community Rent Scheme is a transitional housing product.

Transitional housing:

1. provides timely housing assistance that is responsive to Eligible Persons with a very high or high and urgent need for housing;
2. complements and supports the effective delivery of crisis and longer term housing assistance by helping to connect and improve the pathways between the homelessness and social housing systems; and
3. assists Eligible Persons to stabilise their circumstances and build their capacity to progress to longer-term living arrangements, in the private or social housing sectors. Transitional housing does this by providing intensively managed and closely monitored housing assistance based on assessed need.

6.1 The Provider must comply with its obligations under the Regulation, including its obligations to keep and implement policies as set out in sections 25, 26, 26B, 28 and 34 of the Regulation.

6.2 Clause 6.3 does not contain a definitive list of policies required to be kept and implemented by the Provider. Each respective policy requirement detailed below in clause 6.3 must be read in conjunction with the Assistance Agreement and the Regulation.

6.3 The Provider must make provision for the following requirements in its respective policy and implement such policy to the satisfaction of the Department:

1. Referrals Policy (s25 of Regulation) Where a Provider is not able to assist an Enquirer or where a tenant no longer wishes to remain within a property being managed by the Provider but wish to obtain assistance through a Housing Service, it must refer those persons to other avenues for assistance. The Provider must ensure that the referrals are appropriate and relevant to the Enquirer.

2. Eligibility Policy (s26 of the Regulation) The Provider must implement the Common Eligibility Criteria published by the Department from time to time, as its Eligibility Policy required under s26 of the Regulation.

3. Allocations Policy (s26B of the Regulation) The Provider must implement the Allocations Policy Transitional Housing–Community Rent Scheme, Community-managed Housing – Studio Units and Same House Different Landlord published by the Department from time to time, as its Allocations Policy required under s26B of the Regulation.

4. Dispute Resolution and Review of Decisions (s29 of the Regulation) The Provider must keep and implement policies for:

   1. handling and resolving disputes involving Tenants, including complaints, promptly and impartially
   2. reviewing its decisions relating to Tenants and substantiating decisions made
   3. ensuring that a written response to a dispute or review of a decision is provided to the Tenant.
5. Rent (s34 of the Regulation) The Provider must implement the Community Housing Rent Policy as provided by the Department from time to time as its Rent Policy required under s34 of the Regulation.

6.4Tenancy Planning and Review

The Provider must implement the Tenancy Planning and Review policy, procedures and guidelines provided by the Department from time to time.

7.1 The Provider must not grant any right of occupation of the Property to a person who is not an Eligible Person without first obtaining the written approval of the Department.

7.2 The Provider must not use the Funds to lease any property from or to:

1. any employee or officer of the Provider; or
2. any family member, partner or relative of an employee or officer of the Provider; or
3. to any entity which is owned, in full or in part, by either a person listed in clause 7.2 (a) or 7.2 (b) above, or which that person may have an interest (i.e shares).

7.3 All Property utilised by the Provider in supplying a Housing Service must be kept in good order and repair.

7.4 When the Provider carries out repairs any broken items must be replaced with similar items of a similar standard.

7.5 Maintenance undertaken by the Provider must be carried out in a tradesperson-like and lawful manner and should be from good quality, durable, low maintenance materials to cater for high wear and tear.

7.6 The Provider must comply with all laws and regulations in relation to the health and safety of persons using or entering the Property.

7.7 Purchases made and work undertaken in relation to the Property must:

1. represent the best value for money, that is, the best return and performance for the money being spent
2. be completed by tradespersons selected through fair and equitable means, free from any conflict of interest
3. where required by law, be completed by a qualified licensed tradesperson with adequate insurance cover
4. be completed in a timely manner.

7.8 If a tradesperson is engaged for an extended period of time, the Provider must make a check periodically to ensure that the tradesperson is licensed to carry out the works and holds adequate insurance cover.

8.1 the number of properties managed by the Provider under the CRS, detailed in the Assistance Agreement; and

8.2 the geographic area to be serviced.

9.1 In achieving the Objectives of the CRS the Provider must only use Receipts for Allowable Expenditure.

9.2 The Provider must not commit itself to contracts or other legal obligations that extend beyond the period of funding or the term stated in the Assistance Agreement if the Provider is reliant upon Receipts in order to meet its obligations under such contracts or legal obligations.

12.1 The Provider must provide the following information and reports to the Department within 21 days of being requested by the Department to do so in writing:

1. a copy of any required insurance policies, the receipts for the last premiums and certificates of currency of all such insurance policies
2. such other information related to the Provider's operations as the Department may reasonably request.

12.2 Without limiting clause 12.1 the Provider must provide the following completed reports to the Department in the time frames detailed below:

1. monthly services reports, reporting against the specific performance indicators identified in Annexure 1, in the form or system as supplied by the Department from time to time, not later than the third business day of the following month
2. financial reports in the form or system as supplied by the Department from time to time. The reporting periods are 1 July to 30 September and 1 July to 31 March annually. Cumulative (year-to-date) financial information must be reported for each reporting period. This report is due 21 days after the end of each reporting period (For example - 21 October or 21 April)
3. the Social Housing Annual Financial Return in the form or system as provided from time to time by the Department by 31 October each year
4. a report that explains how it has met its obligations under the Assistance Agreement for each annual period ending 30 June, by 31 October each year
5. a report that gives the department property detail information in the form or system as supplied by the department, no later than two days after the property information has changed or a new property has been acquired.