Increase in number of clients who sustain tenancies in long-term properties owned or managed by Launch Housing

Summary

• Launch Housing owns and manages a portfolio of safe and suitable housing stock and supports people to access and retain housing
• 86% of clients sustained their tenancies in long term properties managed or owned by Launch Housing
• 344 households supported into new tenancies at Launch Housing
• 892 number of properties owned or managed by Launch Housing.

Analysis

A significant number of clients sustain their tenancies in our long-term housing

When people are provided safe affordable housing with a social rental provider like Launch Housing, they are more likely to sustain their tenancies which is why we are focused on increasing our owned properties over the next five years.

Launch Housing’s Bellfield Social Housing project added much needed community housing stock to the market this year amidst a state housing crisis.

Bellfield provides affordable housing for low to moderate income earners in Melbourne’s inner northeast, enabling residents to remain connected to their community with the assurance and security of somewhere safe and affordable to live. It’s an example of Launch Housing’s role not just in providing homelessness services, but also as a social rental provider that adds to Victoria’s housing stock.

“This is my first home that is truly my home. It’s been the only thing I’ve ever wished for. I decorated my home, having my friends over to visit, planning my future. My mental health is so much better now that I have a home.”

– Bellfield Resident

“All the people I have been in contact with have been non-judgmental and supportive which has made a huge difference in how I see myself being in this situation.”

– Renter

Launch Housing has a great track record of supporting its tenants sustain their tenancies. This year, of the 290 tenants in our long-term properties, 250 (or 86%) stayed for 12 months or more.

For women, having long-term housing meant having a safe space to recover from trauma, access health services and provide stability for their children. Sustaining their tenancies means being able to focus on recovering from trauma, rebuilding their lives and thriving. Our focus on families and new beginnings is a key pillar of our work, and we document our impact here.

We build social housing and add to Melbourne’s housing supply.

This year, Launch Housing opened the new Bellfield Social Housing project in partnership with both a local government, Banyule City Council and Homes Victoria.

Bellfield provides safe and affordable homes for 58 new households, including a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom homes. The four-level building has generous indoor and outdoor communal spaces for residents to enjoy and will sit alongside a Bellfield Community Hub.

Our onsite Tenancy Manager works hand in hand with Council and local services, ensuring that renters have their multiple opportunities to attend activities local community activities and utilise various resources to ease the burden of life’s challenges and get the most out of every day.

Residents can access and engage with services, activities and programs provided by council at the Community Hub and use the incredibly popular Community Garden. Activities that celebrate cultural diversity, cooking classes and opportunities to connect through morning teas are popular among residents. Access to these services and activities aim to enhance the health and wellbeing outcomes for tenants and their engagement with the broader community, which is so important to fostering not only sustainable but thriving community housing tenancies.

Looking ahead

Sustaining tenancies is important both for preventing homelessness and to ensure people in their path to recovery remain housed. As of June 2024, there were over 50,000 households on the Social Housing Waitlist in Victoria. Launch Housing will continue to grow our portfolio of safe and suitable housing stock to ensure we can support as many people as possible into housing.

We’re also looking to develop more permanent and social housing. The success of Viv’s Place and Bellfield show how housing, healthcare and social and community support can ensure people get and keep their housing and thrive.