Quick links:

• Current CHFV Projects
• Recently completed projects
• National Affordable Housing Forum
• Research
• CHFV Policies

Current CHFV Projects

Emergency Response Manual Update

The CHFV Emergency Response Manual was produced in 2004, and many of CHFV's member organisations use it as a matter of course. The kit has been updated by Mark Smoljo, who has completed reviewing the document and determining potential improvements. Many member organisations will have already heard from Mark. CHFV are awaiting Office of Housing approval to release it.

It is anticipated that the new kit will be made available on interactive CD, to allow organisations the flexibility of printing out multiple forms and other documents. A "scaled down" version of the manual is also being considered for non-rooming house organisations who don't have as many responsibilities for emergency response procedures.

If you would like more information on the project, please contact Mark at chfv@chfv.org.au or 03 9654 6077.

Maintenance Manual Update

Given the manifold changes to funding arrangements under the Housing Provider Framework, CHFV decided it was necessary to update the Maintenance Manual to reflect new operating arrangements. The kit is being updated by Mark Smoljo. As with the Emergency Response Update, the new version of this manual will be produced on an interactive CD.

If you would like more information on the project, please contact Mark at chfv@chfv.org.au or 03 9654 6077.

Employee Assistance Program

CHFV is very proud to announce to it’s membership the introduction of an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) from 4th February 2008. More detailed literature will be posted to all member agencies.

The EAP will be available to employees of member organisations and their immediate family. It is a free professional counselling service that CHFV will trial for one year to it’s membership.  We will be contracting with IPS Worldwide to provide this service for you.  

The EAP offers short-term professional counselling. It is a completely confidential service. Employers or CFHV will not be privy to information regarding anyone’s access of the service nor what is discussed during sessions with IPS. The EAP can provide help with: 

Work Issues - problems with performance, relationships between co-workers, managing conflict, manager coaching, adjusting to change, handling work stress, making career choices and dealing with traumatic events

Personal Issues - stress management, grief and loss, family Issues, work-Life balance and concerns about children.

And more……

A choice can be made between face-to-face or telephone counselling during work hours. Telephone counselling is available 24/7. Appointments need to be made in advance for all counselling. Counselling is offered ‘off site’ in professional offices in Melbourne metropolitan areas and regional locations.  

Briefing sessions can be conducted either at CHFV or at regional locations. Information will be sent to staff of member organisations on a regular basis. If you would like more information on the project, please contact CHFV at chfv@chfv.org.au or 03 9654 6077.

Occupational Health and Safety Kit

The CHFV OH&S Kit will be an essential guide to OH&S responsibilities and will be tailored to the community housing environment. In addition, CHFV will provide training to housing sector agencies in the use of the newly updated kit based on our OHS Contractors kit of 2002. This upgrade is timely because of the advent of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and community housing providers are now being required to register under the Housing Act 1986, and as such need to display their adherence to OH&S legislation through policy and procedure. Work will be done on the draft in the first half of 2008.

Please do not hesitate to contact CHFV at chfv@chfv.org.au or 03 9654 6077 for more information on this project or if you would like to participate in the draft of the new kit.

Recently Completed Projects

Community Capacity Building Project Management Template *NEW*

We are pleaed to announce the release of the CHFV Community Capacity Building (CCB) Project Plan Template. This will assist members in preparing a CCB Project Plan and Project Report at the end of every financial year. This template has been designed to complement the existing CHFV Business Planning Kit. All relevant groups with a Business Planning Kit have been posted a copy of the template. If you would like additional copies please contact CHFV at chfv@chfv.org.au or 03 9654 6077.

Business Planning Kit

Under the new housing legislation, community housing organisations are required to register as providers. One condition of registration is the development of a business plan, and in order to assist agencies CHFV has developed a business planning kit for the sector.

The kit is aimed at providing small to medium sized community housing organisations with access to business planning expertise - without having to spend precious resources on engaging a business planning consultant. The kit is of benefit to all organisations - large and small.

The business planning kit comes with an interactive CD and tools that can be loaded onto your computer. These link with resources that CHFV maintains on the internet.

All CHFV members are entitled to a free copy of the kit. If you would like to order an additional kit - or purchase one if you are not a member, please use the link below and complete the order form.

Business Planning Kit Order Form

Business Planning Workshops:

CHFV has successfully run three business planning workshops, which were well attended and useful for members. CHFV intends to arrange additional workshops in the future. This is currently on an "as-needs" basis, so if you're interested, please contact us on 9654 6077 or chfv@chfv.org.au.

External Appeals Body for the Co-operative Sector

CHFV has completed it's report on establishing a mechanism to resolve disputes within housing co-operative that occur between individual members and their co-operative. CHFV has now released the final report and is now in the process of advocating to the Office of Housing and Consumer affairs about the possibilities of establishing an appeals process for cooperative housing. You can access the report via the link below:

CHFV Ex-Appeals Project - Final Report 100706

Three Year Strategic Plan 2006 to 2009

The Federation has just completed an extensive process of consultation with members on the development of the next three year strategic plan. A copy of this plan is available here.

National Affordable Housing Forum

At a meeting of the Housing Justice Roundtable in 2006, Professor Julian Disney from the National Affordable Housing Forum presented a few key points on the work the forum is doing in developing a National Affordable Housing Agreement. The Forum met in July 2006 to discuss these issues, and background papers and a summary of this meeting are held on the National Affordable Housing Forum's website.

Click here to be redirected to the National Affordable Housing Forum's Website

Research

Singles’ Housing

CHFV is currently tackling the issue of singles housing in Victoria. Providing appropriate and accessible housing for single people is becoming a more and more pressing problem as our population ages and households become smaller. Apart from those who live long term in rooming houses, there are many other people – those with disabilities, the elderly and so on, who must, or choose, to live alone. A special CHFV working group had been established to foster awareness of the need for singles housing and is currently preparing a discussion paper on the issue. The work of this group has now been incorporated into the Policy and Research sub-Committee to carry forward. Further reports on progress will be published on this web page.

Mapping Community Housing

The Community Housing Federation of Australia (CHFA) has undertaken a ‘mapping project’ of the community housing sector across Australia in order to draw up a basic profile of the sector and its capacity for growth and expansion. This research was carried out in partnership with the Australian Institute for Health and Welfare (AIHW). It is hoped that a more clear, up-to-date and detailed picture of the community housing sector will better inform housing policy and programs about the sector. CHFA is currently in discussions with the FACSIA regarding the final document. It is anticipated that it will be available for general consumption soon!

Contact Karen if you’d like further details at chfv@chfv.org.au.

CHFV Policies

The process of policy development for CHFV is ongoing. Policy issues can be identified by the CHFV Management Committee, program sub committees, or individual members.

The CHFV Policy Sub Committee then develops a draft policy on the issue, which is distributed to the membership for comment and feedback. Once any changes have been incorporated to the draft, the final policy is formally endorsed by the Management Committee, and becomes a public document.

Current Policies

• Standards and Accreditation (2002)
• Principles for Affordable Housing Associations (2004)