About
Together, we aim to build a community housing sector that opens the door to a home for all South Australians.
The Community Housing Industry Association of SA (CHIA SA) is the peak industry body representing South Australia’s Community Housing Providers (CHPs).
We are driven to support our members – CHPs in SA who are organisations that own or manage affordable housing for South Australians in rental stress or facing entry barriers into the private housing market.
As a member-driven community organisation, it is CHIA SA’s role to support and promote the development and provision of community housing in SA and represent the needs and best interests of the community housing industry in engaging with governments, public and private organisations, and the broader community.
To do this, CHIA SA:
- Provides support services to members including professional development activities, advice and referral, and advocacy,
- Facilitates communication, information transfer, support, and co-ordination across the community housing industry,
- Contributes to affordable housing policy development, and
- Provides information, analysis, and advice on housing and other relevant government policy.
CHIA SA enables and resources central forums, and committees, as well as Board of Directors meetings each month for CHPs in South Australia.
CHIA SA is funded by the State Government and is governed by a Board of Directors that include leaders from member agencies.
Membership is open to SA-based CHPs registered under the National Regulatory System for Community Housing (NRSCH) across all registration tiers. Associate Membership for individuals or other interested organisations is also available.
What is community housing?
An affordable housing option for those in need and facing disadvantage
Community housing provides affordable, stable, secure, and safe housing to people in South Australia living on low to moderate incomes, facing disadvantage and/or with specific needs.
People supported by community housing can include those who are living on a fixed income, have experienced or are at risk of homelessness, the elderly, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people living with disability, survivors of domestic violence, and people from non-English speaking backgrounds.
Community housing is housing owned or managed by Community Housing Providers (CHPs) and can include affordable rental accommodation, affordable housing for purchase, or rent to buy opportunities.
A range of community housing is provided by various CHPs to meet different living arrangements and tenancy needs (individuals and couples to families).
Some CHPs specialise in disability housing or transitional housing. Some CHPs offer long term housing and others link tenants to specialist support services, like financial counselling, education, or training from other non-government and government organisations.
Community housing tenants may be involved by CHPs in the development of services. Different CHPs have different approaches to tenant participation and may include community-initiated activities.
The benefits of community housing include providing stability, safety, and security, in turn improving tenants’ physical and mental health and provides opportunities for tenants to engage with the wider community in a meaningful and inclusive way. The benefits of community housing extend to reducing public health and welfare costs and boosting local economies.
Who are our members?
Providing affordable, stable, secure, and safe housing to South Australians since 1981
Some of South Australia’s largest Community Housing Providers (CHPs) are among a growing list of members of the Community Housing Industry Association of SA (CHIA SA).
CHPs provide an alternative housing option to public housing for South Australians living on low to moderate incomes, facing disadvantage and/or with specific needs.
Our members are not-for-profit organisations that own or manage affordable rental accommodation.
They are also individuals or other interested organisations involved in providing and/or advocating for affordable housing options for those in need and facing disadvantage.
CHPs are administered, maintained, and managed by paid employees who are delivering affordable housing in conjunction with state government agencies the SA Housing Authority and Renewal SA.
Some of our members provide affordable and appropriate specialised housing to people living with disability so that they have the freedom and opportunity to live their lives with independence, choice, and control. Others are housing co-ops run by members to enable them to have the time and energy to build strong communities, social networks and better health and well-being outcomes for their members. Some focus on affordable housing for women, children and young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Our member CHPs are registered under the National Regulatory System for Community Housing (NRSCH) across all registration tiers and are legally incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act 1985 and the Corporations Act 2001.
Join the CHIA SA mailing list
"*" indicates required fields
Why we do it
We aim to support a community housing industry that leaves no South Australian behind.
CHIA SA is driven to support our members – South Australian community housing providers (CHPs) who have been delivering affordable housing to low income and disadvantaged tenants in South Australia since the 1980s.
As cost-of-living pressures escalate, a successful community housing industry is more critical now than ever.
Our steadfast focus remains in supporting our members to develop innovative and collaborative affordable housing options to ensure that those who are most vulnerable in our community can live stable, independent, productive, and socially connected lives.
A shared vision
Providers are driven by their determination to house people on low incomes and those facing barriers and disadvantage. Community housing tenants can include people fleeing domestic and family violence, refugees, First Nations peoples, people with disability, people exiting the justice system, single parents, and young people.
Why is it important?
Together, CHIA SA and CHPs can work to better service tenants and understand individual needs and broader societal and policy impacts, particularly for those South Australians experiencing homelessness and living with disability.
Greater collaborative understanding within and beyond the sector will not only provide vulnerable South Australians with stability, safety, and security, in turn improving physical and mental health, but also will help reduce public health and welfare costs and boost local economies.
What does a successful community housing industry look like?
A successful community housing industry allows providers to develop more affordable housing options for those who are most vulnerable in our community so they can enjoy stable, independent, productive, and socially connected lives.
