In line with its strategic plan, Housing Choices actively pursued the expansion of its national footprint this year, achieving significant growth in its portfolio of properties under management and in resident numbers and partnerships. As the housing affordability crisis deepened across the country, so too did the pressure on vulnerable people who found themselves, literally, flowing on to the streets. The levels of homelessness reached heights that have not been seen for many decades. People living with disability and/or mental health issues, the homeless, older people and those fleeing domestic violence found it harder and harder to find suitable and safe housing. While there is much stronger resolve at all levels of government to find solutions to the housing crisis, we believe that there remains a need for direct government intervention and investment in social and affordable housing, as well as a comprehensive national regulatory system for all community housing providers.
We know that with intelligent expansion and growth, there will be economies of scale that will allow us to maximise efficiencies and achieve greater, more innovative and sustainable housing outcomes for all Australians. As we head into our 10th year of operations as the Housing Choices group, we acknowledge the growth that has been achieved, particularly this year in South Australia and Tasmania, as well as the development of our real estate arm, Urban Choices Property, and our increasing engagement in New South Wales, which we will actively pursue in the knowledge that we have much to offer there. Partnerships are key to our operational model and, given the continued reforms of the service delivery sector (disability, mental health and aged care), we continue to expand our partner base to include national service delivery support partners, particularly in preparation for the game-changing National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Our staff delivered an extraordinary performance this year and I thank them for their passion and commitment to the work that they do. It is not easy work, but we do it well and it is making a real difference.
Michael Lennon M A N A G I N G D I R E C T O R
What We Do - Annual Report 2016-17 5.
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