Local business is an international compass to social and affordable housing

Local business is an international compass to social and affordable housing

Hunter-based Compass Housing is cementing its position beyond being a leading local provider of social and affordable housing.

From its headquarters in Hamilton, the not-for-profit organisation manages more than 4,500 properties in NSW, Queensland and now New Zealand as well as community development projects in Australia, NZ and Vanuatu.

Compass has also taken a lead role in helping to shape international and national policy on housing. Compass has gained special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council. It was one of a small number of organisations, outside of UN member nations, to make a statement on the New Urban Agenda (NUA) from the floor of the global UN Habitat lll conference held in Quito, Ecuador in October 2016.

Group Managing Director, Greg Budworth is the Co-Chair of the Civil Society Partner Constituent Group, one of 16 groups established by the UN General Assembly of Partners to provide input into the NUA’s development. He worked with Australian Ambassador to the UN Gillian Bird at Quito as Australia signed the NUA. In 2017, Compass had a leading role in bringing world experts on urban development and renewal to a conference in Australia to begin the implementation of the NUA.

Greg has called on the Australian Government post Quito, and in his commentary on the 2017/18 Federal Budget, to appoint a Minister for Housing and establish a national plan for housing integrated with other national economic, infrastructure and workforce plans. Compass has worked with other organisations and academics to develop the Towards a National Housing Strategy to assist the Government in this goal.

Back in the Hunter, Compass continues to play a key role in developing affordable housing infrastructure. Compass and joint venture partner, BlueCHP have been selected by the NSW Government to build and manage new group home accommodation for people currently living in three Hunter-based residential care centres.

It was awarded a NSW Government Social and Affordable Housing Fund (SAHF) contract to deliver more than 600 new social and affordable houses across the Hunter and Central Coast over the next three years. The full economic impact of that contract is around $1 billion for the two regions.

Greg said Compass’ success is due to a talented team and a focus on the fact that housing is a fundamental human right.

“We do more than put a roof over people’s heads,” Greg said.

“We work with our tenants to give them skills and opportunities to maximise their economic and social contribution to their community.

“We are always looking to work with local businesses in delivering housing and housing services as well as in supporting tenants programs, such as our Grow a Star Scholarship Program.”

Compass’ approach to business has seen it win three top honours in the 2016 Australian Business Awards.

IMAGE| The Hon Angus Taylor, MP. Assistant Minister for Cities and Digital Infrastructure with Compass Housing Group MD, Greg Budworth, at the NUA conference.

Home in Place

Home in Place is a Tier 1 community housing provider and registered Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) provider. It currently manages more than 7600 social, affordable and disability housing homes in NSW, Queensland and New Zealand.

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