1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,560 Speaker 1: The Northern Territory government's transferred management of five hundred public 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:08,320 Speaker 1: housing properties to community housing providers. Mission Australia is going 3 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:10,640 Speaker 1: to be taking on two hundred and fifty one homes 4 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:13,800 Speaker 1: in the Northern suburbs, and Venture Housing is going to 5 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:17,680 Speaker 1: be managing two hundred and fifty properties in Palmerston. The 6 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:21,000 Speaker 1: move is set to provide tenants with more services and 7 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:24,599 Speaker 1: support with no out of pocket rent increases. Now joining 8 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:26,759 Speaker 1: us on the line to tell us how this is 9 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:30,920 Speaker 1: all going to work. Venture Housing CEO Karen Walsh. Good 10 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:32,240 Speaker 1: morning to you, Karen. 11 00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:35,480 Speaker 2: Hi Katie, thanks for having me on. 12 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:37,839 Speaker 1: Yeah, lovely to have you on. Now, Karen tell us 13 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 1: what does this mean for tenants? 14 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:43,880 Speaker 2: What does it mean for tenants? It means that they 15 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:48,200 Speaker 2: will still be paying the same out of pocket rent 16 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 2: as you said, as they currently are, so they'll be 17 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 2: paying twenty five percent of their growth hotfold income, which 18 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 2: is what the current model is in public counting, so 19 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:02,120 Speaker 2: they'll still be paying that, also be able to claim 20 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:05,120 Speaker 2: Commonwealth rent assistance, many of them will be eligible to 21 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:09,479 Speaker 2: claim that and that will be passed on to Venture 22 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 2: Housing and obviously Mission Australia to go towards the repairs 23 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 2: and maintenance and the operating costs for the homes, so 24 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:22,240 Speaker 2: they won't be paying any more in rent than they 25 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:28,280 Speaker 2: currently are. They'll also have regular tendency inspections, they'll have 26 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 2: repairs and maintenance undertaken in accordance with our standards. So 27 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 2: community housing providers are regulated under a national regulatory scheme. 28 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 2: We are held to very very high standards and if 29 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:45,960 Speaker 2: we don't meet those standards, we have to explain why. So, 30 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:50,640 Speaker 2: for example, we have to undertake repairs and maintenance within 31 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:54,920 Speaker 2: certain timeframes and if we don't, we have to please explain. 32 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:58,560 Speaker 2: So we are a social purpose you know, we're not 33 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 2: for profit organization, but we operate like businesses. We have 34 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 2: to apply a very commercial approach to how we run 35 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:12,360 Speaker 2: our organization so that we can optimize the services that 36 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:16,399 Speaker 2: we provide to tenants. They need to be very customer focused, 37 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:19,919 Speaker 2: they need to be responsive, and the repairs and maintenance 38 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:22,080 Speaker 2: and the management of the properties that needs to be 39 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:24,560 Speaker 2: to the highest standard. 40 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 1: Karen, I'm sure some people listening will be thinking that 41 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:29,400 Speaker 1: sounds like a really good thing, because you know, at 42 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 1: different times I've seen that there's or we've certainly had 43 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:34,359 Speaker 1: people contact us at different times and say Katie, you 44 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:36,959 Speaker 1: know there's a public housing home on my street that's 45 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 1: been vacant for months and months. You know they've not 46 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:41,840 Speaker 1: done the repairs on it. Why not get people into 47 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 1: that home. The wait lists within the Northern Territory Housing 48 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 1: Department are incredibly long and have been for a long 49 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 1: long time and do seem to continue to grow. But 50 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:54,919 Speaker 1: then from the other perspective, I know people will be 51 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:59,000 Speaker 1: listening this morning thinking does Venture Housing and Mission Australia 52 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:03,480 Speaker 1: do they have strict procedures and guidelines in terms of 53 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 1: people that may be leaving those public housing residences that 54 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:08,519 Speaker 1: aren't doing the right thing. 55 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely, so we operate under very robust policies. Also 56 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:20,240 Speaker 2: the regulation that I've talked about. We have to demonstrate 57 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 2: to the regulator that we are managing tenancies in accordance 58 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:28,160 Speaker 2: with policy, the Residential Tenancy Agreements, etc. And the Residential 59 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 2: Tenancy Act. And for ourselves as not for profit organizations 60 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 2: with governing boards, we report to boards. We have boards 61 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 2: because we're not for profit organizations. We're not part of government, 62 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:46,960 Speaker 2: so we are charities. So if we keep a property 63 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:49,360 Speaker 2: empty for a long time that has a couple of 64 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:53,120 Speaker 2: flow on effects. It means that that property is not 65 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 2: bringing in rent to go back into the system, which 66 00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 2: impacts on our bottom line. But it also means that 67 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:02,080 Speaker 2: there's a family or a household that in missing out 68 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:05,360 Speaker 2: on having a safe, secure, affordable home and you know, 69 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:08,119 Speaker 2: a roof over their head. So we want to make 70 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:12,960 Speaker 2: sure that every asset that we manage is managed well, 71 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 2: that it's occupied, and if it's if it needs major 72 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:21,320 Speaker 2: works for whatever reason, or it needs to be you know, 73 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:26,320 Speaker 2: demolished because it's beyond economic repair. We will make decisions 74 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:29,159 Speaker 2: about those sorts of things very quickly. We will not 75 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:32,640 Speaker 2: leave a property empty for months and months, because that 76 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:34,600 Speaker 2: is not good for anyone. It's not good for the 77 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:38,360 Speaker 2: social hanging system, and it's not good for neighborhoods either 78 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 2: to signty properties in their streets because they're also subject 79 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 2: to you know, vandalism and you know, the lawns you know, 80 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:49,240 Speaker 2: I will you know, be in disrepair, and those sorts 81 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 2: of things. We want to create thriving communities and neighborhoods 82 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 2: that have you know, that are with houses that are 83 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,799 Speaker 2: occupied and that are well maintained and people feel proud 84 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:04,800 Speaker 2: to live there. So that's our focus we really want 85 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 2: to you know, work for the tenants, the stakeholders and 86 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:11,480 Speaker 2: the government. How can we actually do this better? And 87 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 2: one of the reasons the antig Anti government has adopted 88 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:20,320 Speaker 2: this approach to transfer forty percent of public hands into 89 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 2: the community housing sector over the next few years is 90 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:29,479 Speaker 2: because there is evidence all across Australia that demonstrates that 91 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:33,839 Speaker 2: community hansing providers because they are regulated, because they've got 92 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:38,240 Speaker 2: different management and business models, and because we're charities, we 93 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:41,680 Speaker 2: don't pay GST, we don't pay stamp duty. If we 94 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:45,800 Speaker 2: know ap purchase houses or build properties, we can do 95 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 2: more for less and generally what. 96 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:52,840 Speaker 1: About though, you know, what about in terms of you know, 97 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 1: the procedures that you guys have to go to or 98 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 1: go through, because it has seemed in the past sometimes 99 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:01,800 Speaker 1: that if public house or you know, if the Department 100 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:06,640 Speaker 1: of Housing had tenants that were misbehaving, they seem like 101 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:09,359 Speaker 1: they're a bit hamstrung. I mean, is it different for 102 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:15,960 Speaker 1: you guys if there are problem tenants, it's probably not different. 103 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:21,279 Speaker 2: Our approach is about sustaining tendancy, but also about creating 104 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:26,040 Speaker 2: thriving and you know, resilient community. So we have what 105 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:29,400 Speaker 2: we call a sustainable tenancies team and approach where we 106 00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:32,839 Speaker 2: absolutely as soon as there might be an issue, we 107 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:35,120 Speaker 2: get a complaint or there's an issue about a family 108 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:39,080 Speaker 2: or a household, either from tenants or from that family themselves, 109 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 2: we will intervene very early, and we will make sure 110 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:46,680 Speaker 2: that we get the wrap around services and the supports, 111 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:49,800 Speaker 2: and we get everyone else to take responsibility as well 112 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 2: as us as a hanging provider, we will play a 113 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 2: part in this. It should not just be left to 114 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:58,200 Speaker 2: the hasing provider to deal with that particular issue, whatever 115 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 2: it is. But we also have the same instruments and 116 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 2: legislation like the residential tenants. Yet we've also got policies. 117 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 2: Tenants sign up for tenancy agreements and we we do 118 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:16,000 Speaker 2: you know, rigorous assessments before we allocate to tenants. You know, 119 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:18,440 Speaker 2: sometimes that doesn't work out, and we all know that 120 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:24,200 Speaker 2: I'm not naive, but we do. And if there are 121 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:29,600 Speaker 2: issues of antisocial behavior or violence or crime, we will 122 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:35,040 Speaker 2: use whatever instruments or agencies within the system and also 123 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:38,840 Speaker 2: the evidence to go to anti care and evict people. 124 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:42,920 Speaker 2: But that is always the last resort. If we evict 125 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:46,320 Speaker 2: a family or household, we often see that as a failing. 126 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:49,720 Speaker 2: What went wrong within the system? You know, what was 127 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:53,680 Speaker 2: it about that situation that we could not solve? And 128 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:57,560 Speaker 2: sometimes you can solve that situation, but nine times out 129 00:07:57,560 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 2: of ten, if you mobilize all the resources and the 130 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 2: you know, including the neighbors, you know, the neighbors have 131 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:07,760 Speaker 2: also got a very good role to play because they 132 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:10,720 Speaker 2: can also support their neighbors, it might be in a 133 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:15,520 Speaker 2: bit of trouble. Yeah, So we do have anti social 134 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 2: behavior policies and approaches that we use, but also we 135 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 2: cannot afford for tenants to you know, I think they 136 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:27,000 Speaker 2: can get away with everything and ruin it for everyone else. 137 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:31,800 Speaker 2: Every tenant has got a right to peaceful enjoyment and 138 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:35,240 Speaker 2: we want to make sure that every tenant has that opportunity. 139 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:37,680 Speaker 2: And we are you know, we're not a soft touch. 140 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:39,360 Speaker 2: We will do what needs to be done, but we'll 141 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:41,800 Speaker 2: also try and work out what the issues are within 142 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 2: that household. But if they're addressed, could actually change that 143 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:49,520 Speaker 2: whole situation for that family. And we also don't want 144 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:52,880 Speaker 2: to evict people into homelessness if that is the last resort, 145 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 2: because that's not you know, that's a terrible Just. 146 00:08:56,240 --> 00:08:58,520 Speaker 1: Moving along because I know we're priss for time. The 147 00:08:58,559 --> 00:09:01,560 Speaker 1: initiative is also set to help boost the number of 148 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:04,880 Speaker 1: public houses in the Northern Territory. How is that going 149 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:05,360 Speaker 1: to work? 150 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 2: Okay? So, as a not for profit organization, and we're 151 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:13,479 Speaker 2: also a developer, we develop our own properties. So we 152 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:17,839 Speaker 2: use our surpluses or are guaranteed revenue to borrow money 153 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:23,760 Speaker 2: from financial institutions. We use our surpluses that we might 154 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:27,840 Speaker 2: make on our efficient business model to use as equity 155 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 2: to go against delivering additional supply. So for example, we've 156 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 2: we've bought properties in the past with our surpluses and 157 00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:39,520 Speaker 2: you know we're planning on doing that currently as well, 158 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:42,360 Speaker 2: and we've got a number of examples about that. So 159 00:09:42,559 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 2: the rent that we collect from this two hundred and 160 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:50,840 Speaker 2: fifty property, every dollar of that will go back into 161 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:54,359 Speaker 2: our operating, our tendency management, our a pairs and maintenance, 162 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:57,000 Speaker 2: you know, the tendancy engagement and all those sorts of 163 00:09:57,000 --> 00:10:00,160 Speaker 2: things we need to do to have good tenants in 164 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:02,960 Speaker 2: repair and maintenance, et cetera. But there will we have 165 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:05,400 Speaker 2: worked out that there will be a surplus, so that 166 00:10:05,520 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 2: surplus can be used to go towards lending to deliver 167 00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:14,720 Speaker 2: five or ten or however many properties we can actually deliver. 168 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 2: You know, we don't know what the number is yet 169 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:21,080 Speaker 2: because we are yet to manage these properties. We are 170 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:23,679 Speaker 2: not taking them on until the first of July. Itkay, 171 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:29,040 Speaker 2: So what the community housing model is We create surpluses 172 00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:32,000 Speaker 2: even though we're charities. We do not want to make 173 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:35,760 Speaker 2: a lost. We want to create surpluses from having a 174 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:41,400 Speaker 2: very efficient business model that delivers efficient and effective services. 175 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:43,920 Speaker 2: But we make a surplus to go back and invest 176 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:47,760 Speaker 2: to increase and boost supply. That is what happens all 177 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:52,000 Speaker 2: over Australia. That's the model. And because we are not government, 178 00:10:52,559 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 2: and because we don't pay GST and stamp gut, we 179 00:10:56,080 --> 00:11:00,800 Speaker 2: can build and deliver more social housing or affordable hangs 180 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:04,720 Speaker 2: in for less than government or the private sector can 181 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:07,600 Speaker 2: because we've got those concessions, tax concessions. 182 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:10,880 Speaker 1: And so Karen taking over taking over, in taking over 183 00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:15,000 Speaker 1: in June, did you say homely first of July, first 184 00:11:15,040 --> 00:11:18,120 Speaker 1: of July. Well, look, I hope that it does see 185 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:20,839 Speaker 1: some really serious change. When you know, when it comes 186 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:24,800 Speaker 1: to public housing or to housing for people that genuinely 187 00:11:24,840 --> 00:11:27,680 Speaker 1: need it, you know, we know that those wait times 188 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 1: are so incredibly long, we also know that there are 189 00:11:31,960 --> 00:11:35,040 Speaker 1: quite a large number of vacant properties. So if this 190 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:37,760 Speaker 1: does mean that there's some movement in that space and 191 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 1: that you know that those in need are able to 192 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:42,120 Speaker 1: get into a home, I think it could be a 193 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:44,439 Speaker 1: really good thing. We are going to have to leave 194 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 1: it there, Karen. I really appreciate your time this morning. 195 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:48,679 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for coming on and having a 196 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 1: chat with us. 197 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:52,880 Speaker 2: Thank you, Katie, and we'll look forward to letting you 198 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:54,120 Speaker 2: know how we go in a few months. 199 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:56,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'll be I'll be really keen to hear. Thank you, Karen. 200 00:11:57,000 --> 00:11:57,800 Speaker 1: We appreciate it. 201 00:11:58,040 --> 00:11:58,480 Speaker 2: Thank you.