Across Victoria, there are only 423 crisis ‘beds’ available to people experiencing homelessness and/or family violence. When those beds are full, agencies are completely dependent on the private housing system and they use the limited funds they have available to access low end hotels and private roominghouses.

Housing cooperatives are a growing presence in Australia’s housing system, providing a diversity of housing forms to a variety of household types across the income spectrum, typically serving low- and moderate-income households. The research presented in this report reviewed a selection of international cooperative housing sectors in addition to the Australian context.

This research modelled five alternative pathways to funding social housing and found the ‘capital grant’ model, supplemented by efficient financing, provides the most cost effective model for Australia. The research also established the current and future unmet need for social housing in different parts of Australia.

A tenfold increase in building is needed to overcome the current social housing shortfall and cover projected growth in need. It can be done, and direct public investment is the cheapest way.

Drawing upon interview data, this paper examines the implementation of the My Property Choice’ (MPC) system as part of Sydney social housing relocation processes, revealing tensions surrounding efforts to increase residents’ choice.