Kath Hulse, Bill Randolph, Matthew Toohey, Gillian Beer and Rob Lee provide an overview and context for a research project seeking to assess the effect of housing costs, housing subsidy structures and housing administrative requirements on the capacity of unemployed people to gain employment.

The key factors in promoting resident participation in renewal are community development approaches that start with local people, identify local issues and give residents the confidence and skills to influence their communities writes Bill Randolph.

Written at a time of major change for the sector, following the announcement in August 1992 of a new Community Housing Program, this paper reviews the current state of community housing in Australia.