In New South Wales, community housing is provided by the not-for-profit sector and administered by the Community Housing Division. Community housing is part of the broader social housing system, offering those most in need, access to affordable and appropriate housing.
The Community Housing Division plays a major role in the sector's strategic development and in ensuring that community housing is effectively managed, operates in the public interest and is accountable to Government. In particular, it administers the accreditation and registration programs, which support the maintenance of the high standards in the sector.
The role of the Community Housing Division is to:
- Set the strategic directions for community housing in partnership with community housing providers;
- Plan new community housing developments;
- Fund community housing providers; and to
- Help community housing providers to continually improve the services they offer tenants.
As of 1 May 2009, the community housing sector is regulated by the Registrar of Community Housing.
The Community Housing Division's central Office is located at Ashfield. There are divisional offices at Coffs Harbour, Newcastle, Wollongong and Orange.
Community housing tenants are not tenants of the Community Housing Division or Housing NSW. They are the tenants of the housing provider.