EVO LVE H O U S I N G A N N UA L R E P O RT 2 0 2 0 – 2 0 2 1
COMMUNITY HOUSING LEASING PROGRAM
The Community Housing Leasing Program (CHLP) gives
lease additional properties in the private rental market
Community Housing Providers increased flexibility in
on longer term leases and/or subsidise the purchase of
accommodating eligible people in housing that suits
a social housing capital property. Both policy changes
their needs, particularly in locations where there are
were strongly supported by the sector.
limited options for purchasing affordable properties. To take advantage of these policy changes, in 2019, Evolve Over the last year, Evolve Housing has been using
Housing purchased an additional four dwellings for social
the program funds to acquire additional suitable
housing from the surplus CHLP funding we received.
accommodation for our residents.
Moving forward, Evolve Housing has also commenced an acquisition program to acquire more established
Under the program, which began in 2000, CHPs lease
dwellings from the private market for residents.
properties to house their residents in, as opposed to purchasing a property outright. Properties are generally
In December 2020, we purchased our very first proper-
leased through real estate agents and sometimes
ty under this acquisition program. The property, locat-
directly through private landlords.
ed in Parramatta, is a well-located 9-unit block close to amenities. The experience so far has demonstrated
The CHLP also provides an option for CHPs to use
to us that positive outcomes can be achieved in secur-
CHLP funds to subsidise the purchase of properties, as
ing properties in high cost, low affordability areas by
long as the property is used to house a certain agreed
leveraging CHLP subsidies.
number of social housing residents. We are in the process of finalising the acquisition Evolve Housing welcomes the NSW Department of
of another block of units and continue to identify
Communities and Justice’s (DCJ) ongoing commitment
properties for potential acquisition over the next
to an innovative partnership through the CHLP.
12 months.
The program provides a flexible, cost effective way
The program is delivering positive outcomes for the
of increasing the supply of social housing in NSW for
NSW Government, community housing providers,
those in the greatest need.
and most importantly, our residents. Using the CHLP funding to purchase capital properties enables
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In 2018, DCJ introduced a 10-year funding guarantee
CHPs like Evolve Housing to provide long-term stable,
for CHPs for 50% of the CHLP portfolio. In addition,
high-quality accommodation for some of the most
CHPs were allowed to use unspent CHLP funding to
vulnerable people in our community.
