The changing roles of allocations systems in social housing

Allocations systems lie at the core of social housing. They determine who is eligible for housing, the order of providing assistance, and the matching of households with specific properties. In so doing, they affect the circumstances and wellbeing of individual households and the composition and capacity of local communities. Allocations systems also affect all aspects of housing providers' operations, including tenancy management, asset planning and management, rent revenue and, ultimately, financial viability. Despite the importance of social housing allocations systems to households, communities and social housing agencies, to date the main mechanism in Australia for considering allocations has been irregular, practice-based reviews carried out by state and territory housing authorities, community housing agencies and some peak bodies. There has been no national and sector-wide research. This is the Final Report of a project that fills a significant research gap in undertaking a review of allocations policies and practices in the Australian social housing sector, comprising public housing, community housing and an emerging affordable housing sector. It reports on research that identifies the drivers for change and explores some reforms being undertaken both in Australia and overseas.