Program specifications - Same house different landlord (SHDL)

2.1 "Allowable Expenditure" for the purposes of the Program means the following expenditure incurred by the Provider in connection with the Property:

1. local authority rates and charges including water rates
2. insurance and reasonable legal expenses
3. administration expenses
4. audit expenses
5. rent arrears and bad debts written off
6. funds for future commitments as agreed between the Provider and the Department
7. any maintenance or repairs
8. other expenses agreed in writing by the Department and the Provider
9. tenancy and property management costs, including costs associated with property inspections.

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

2.3 "Assistance Agreement" means the assistance agreement as defined by the Act entered into between the State and a 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.

2.5 "Eligible Persons" means persons who:

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

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

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

2.8 "Housing Register" means the Department's register of Eligible Persons seeking Housing Services.

2.9 "Objectives" means the Program Objectives as described in clause 5.3.

2.10 "One Social Housing System" means the integrated system for the provision of all housing assistance funded by the Department.

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

2.12 "Property" means the premises described in the Assistance Agreement.

2.13 "Provider" means a party to an 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.

2.16 "SHDL Program" or "Program" means the Same House Different Landlord Program administered by the Department.

2.17 "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 Specifications; and

3.2 these Program Specifications shall be read as if they were part of the Assistance Agreement.

4.1 The Department, through the SHDL Program, gives assistance by leasing Properties to Providers to enable them to deliver transitional housing assistance to Eligible Persons so that the Eligible Persons can transition to longer term social housing without having to relocate to another dwelling.

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

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

5.1 Where funds come from

The SHDL Program is a State funded program.

5.2 Administration

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

5.3 Objectives

The SHDL Program is a transitional housing program that provides intensively managed assistance, based on assessed need, until such time as the household can maintain an independent tenancy in the social housing sector. The tenant and property is transferred to a long term social housing provider (which may be the Department), and a replacement property and tenant is then sourced for the Provider.

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 system
3. assists Eligible Persons to stabilise their circumstances and build their capacity to progress to longer-term living arrangements.

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, 29 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 the Regulation) Where a Provider is not able to assist an Enquirer or where a Tenant no longer wishes to remain within the Property but wishes 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; and

   1. ensure that only Eligible Persons receive a Housing Service from the Provider
   2. ensure that the eligibility of each person receiving a Housing Service is reviewed at least twice per annum
   3. ensure that each criteria for assessing eligibility is readily available to the Applicant.

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.

6.4 Tenancy Planning and Review

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

8.1 In achieving the Objectives of the SHDL Program, the Provider must only use Receipts for Allowable Expenditure.

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

10.2 Without limiting clause 10.1 the Provider must provide the following completed reports to the Department in the time frames detailed below:

1. quarterly service 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, no later than 21 days after the end of the relevant quarter
2. the Social Housing Program Annual Financial Return in the form or system as provided from time to time by the Department by 31 October each year; and
3. 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.