The current supply of social housing on Geelong is approximately 4 300 dwellings comprising 3 628 public housing dwellings owned by DHHS and approximately 665 properties owned by community housing providers [12].
This stock level is somewhat higher than the 3 300 households identified as renting social housing in the most recent census (ABS 2016).
Social housing stock
The type of public housing dwellings currently available in Geelong is shown in Table 16. Nearly half the dwellings are standalone houses (49 percent). Medium density attached dwellings currently account for 38 percent of public housing. There is a very limited supply of ‘movable units’ or ‘multiple unit’ dwellings.
Table 16: Public Housing in the Barwon Region and Geelong LGA 2017/18
| Area | Houses | Medium density attached | Medium density detached | Low rise flat | Movable unit | Multiple unit facility | Other | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barwon | 2 033 | 1 533 | 231 | 97 | 65 | 14 | 51 | 4 024 | |
| Geelong | No | 1 794 | 1 384 | 231 | 97 | 59 | 14 | 49 | 3 628 |
| % | 49% | 38% | 6% | 3% | 2% | 0% | 1% | 100% |
Source: DHHS Housing Assistance Additional Service Delivery Data 2017/18
The majority of social housing dwellings are currently 2- or 3-bedroom dwellings as shown in Figure 14.
Figure 13: Supply of social housing in Geelong number of bedrooms 2017/18
Source: Department of Treasury and Finance 2018 DHHS Housing Assistance Additional Service Delivery Data 2017/18
Social housing locations
Social housing is unevenly distributed across the municipality.
Figure 14: Distribution of social housing Geelong 2016
Source ABS. 2016
In summary:
- There is a significant concentration of social housing in two areas Corio and Norlane; and Newcomb South Geelong St Albans Park and Whittington.
- There are relatively few social housing properties in Area 1 (which includes the Armstrong Creek growth area)
- There are relatively few properties in Areas 12 (Hamlyn Heights) 14 (Lara) and 15 (Lovely Banks)
- There are relatively few properties (6 percent) on the Bellarine Peninsula (Areas 2 3 4 and 5).
Social housing management in Geelong
The Department of Health and Human Services manages approximately 3 322 public housing properties. Registered Housing Agencies currently manage 971 properties (including 306 DHHS owned) which altogether accommodate 1 148 households[13]. These are shown below.
Table 17: Registered Housing Agencies Currently Operating in Geelong
| Housing Associations | No. Properties | Housing Providers | No. Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aboriginal Housing Victoria | 85 | Baptcare | 52 |
| Common Equity Housing Limited | 297 | BAYSA | 49 |
| Housing Choices Australia | 42 | Salvation Army Victoria | 102 |
| Loddon Mallee Housing Limited | 153 | Northern Geelong Rental Housing Coop | 58 |
| Unison Housing Limited | 20 | Active Community Housing Ltd | 3 |
| Wintringham Housing Limited | 70 | Community Housing (Vic) Ltd | 31 |
| Melbourne Affordable Housing | 20 | ||
| Uniting Housing Australia Limited | 3 | ||
| VincentCare Community Housing | 3 | ||
| YWCA Housing | 6 |
Source: Department of Treasury and Finance 2018
The majority of community housing is provided as single dwellings for families however some Agencies provide social housing for particular target groups:
- Common Equity Housing Limited is the largest agency operating in Geelong with 297 properties (30 percent of community housing properties). These are all long term and are provided in most Areas. Common Equity Housing Limited is the predominant provider on the Bellarine Peninsula
- The other major agency is Loddon Mallee Housing Services with 153 properties (15.4 percent). All properties are long term and most are in Areas 6 and 9
- The Salvation Army has 102 social housing properties and provides transitional housing (66 properties) crisis accommodation (20 properties) a rooming house and 15 long term stand-alone properties
- Aboriginal Housing Victoria provides 85 long term properties with about half of these in Corio Norlane
- Wintringham has 70 properties in three Areas – Area 7 (46 properties) 8 (10 properties) and 9 (14 properties). Wintringham focuses on aged care for people at risk of homelessness
- Baptcare has developed 52 affordable properties in Corio Norlane adjacent to a 90 bed concessional residential aged care facility
- BAYSA Limited provides 49 transitional properties for young people across several Areas with the majority in Corio and Norlane
- Housing Choices has 42 properties accommodating 52 tenancies in Whittington Corio Norlane Newtown and Marshall
- Four agencies have very few properties - Active Community Housing Uniting Housing Australia VincentCare Community Housing and YWCA Housing
- The majority of community housing properties (86%) are for long term accommodation
- There are 155 transitional housing properties provided by The Salvation Army (66 properties) and BAYSA (49 properties)
- All crisis accommodation is provided by the Salvation Army and the Salvation Army provides one rooming house (14 beds)[14].
In summary:
Key issues related to the current supply of social hosing in Geelong include:
- Social housing is unevenly distributed across the municipality
- Approximately 25% of current social housing stock is not being utilised
- Most social housing properties are standalone dwellings and there is very limited supply of ‘movable units’ or ‘multiple unit’ dwellings
- Registered Housing Agencies currently manage 994 community housing properties in Geelong which accommodate 1 148 households [15].