What is the Community Housing Federation of Victoria?

The Community Housing Federation of Victoria (CHFV) was formed in 1997, and is the peak, member based organisation representing the views of community housing providers in Victoria. (see also 'What is community housing?')

CHFV’s vision is to support accessible, affordable and appropriate housing for all. It's role is to advance the interests of community housing providers in the development of a viable, independent community housing sector in Victoria.

Quick links:

• Membership
• Services and Activities
• Structure
• Funding
• Legal Status

Membership

Membership of CHFV is open to community housing providers that support the vision, purpose and values of the Federation. CHFV currently has eighty three community housing members. These providers manage over 8000 units, which represent more than 90% of the total of community housing stock in Victoria.

Associate membership of CHFV is open to other organisations or individuals who support the purpose of the Federation.

Click here for a copy of the CHFV membership applicaton form (PDF 53kb)

Services and Activities

CHFV provides the following services and activities to its members:

• Community housing sector development and coordination
• Policy development and analysis
• Training and professional development
• Advocacy
• Information and support

For more detail, see the CHFV Strategic Plan 2006 - 2009

CHFV is also involved in community housing issues at a national level, as an active member of the

Community Housing Federation of Australia.

Structure

Governance

CHFV is governed by a management committee which is elected annually from and by the membership.

There are four executive positions on the committee – Chair, deputy Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.

The Management Committee meets monthly.

Management Committee 2008

Chair: Bryan Lipmann - Wintringham
Deputy Chair: Judy Line - Women's Housing Ltd
Secretary: Jan Berriman - Melbourne Affordable Housing
Treasurer: Steve Bevington - Community Housing Ltd
Members:

Greg Flynn - South East Housing Co-operative

Jeff Lyons - St Kilda Rooming House Issues Group

Melanie Starr - Northcote RHC

Rita Lawrence - SASHS Western

John McInerney - Common Equity Housing Ltd

Karen Barnett - Port Philip Housing Association

Netty Horton - St.Vincent DePaul Housing Ltd

Sub Committees

CHFV is committed to maximising the active participation by members in policy formulation and

decision making. This is facilitated through its sub-committee structure. CHFV sub-committees

are open to all members, as well as non members who are community housing providers - but only

members of CHFV have voting rights.

Sub-committees provide CHFV with:

• a forum for identifying issues, information sharing and discussion;
• a collective view, providing advice on matters it wishes CHFV to
  progress;
• input on CHFV policy development and advocacy; and
• a consultative mechanism between the sector and CHFV.

Sub Committee convenors

• Transitional Housing Managers: This sub-committee has no set convenor
• Rooming House Managers: Anne Laffan
• Housing Co-operatives: This sub-committee has no set convenor
• Publications/Newsletter: Jeff Lyons/Karen Barnett/John McInerney/Greg Flynn
• Training and Development : Mandy Stewart/ Rita Lawrence
• Policy and Research : Greg Flynn/ Judy Line
• Finance and Employment: Steve Bevington / Bryan Lipmann

Funding

In 2006– 2007 CHFV has an annual operating budget of $484,000, and employs 4.8 effective full time staff.

The work of the Federation is also made possible by the significant voluntary contribution of many committed

community housing organisations.

Legal Status

CHFV is a Federation incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act 1981 and is accountable to its

membership via an elected committee of management.