Better lives
happy homes
stronger communities
through safe and
affordable housing
Located on Arrernte country, Community Housing is an Aboriginal controlled, not-for-profit community housing provider in Mparntwe / Alice Springs.
Media Release
Community Housing Central Australia (CHCA) is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) based in Alice Springs that delivers housing services to some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in Australia in one of the most remote cities in the world in an increasingly hostile climate environmentally, financially, operationally and now it seems , politically.
Town Camps have been thrown into the spotlight as a result of the tragic events that consumed the community over the last week and more. Our hearts go out to the families and communities affected and we echo and support the words of the grandfather of Kumanjayi Baby Girl, Warren Williams the chair of the land council “that now is not the time for town camps to be used as a political football”.
Click here to read the full Media Release
Community Housing Central Australia (CHCA) is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) based in Alice Springs that delivers housing services to some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in Australia in one of the most remote cities in the world in an increasingly hostile climate environmentally, financially, operationally and now it seems , politically.
Town Camps have been thrown into the spotlight as a result of the tragic events that consumed the community over the last week and more. Our hearts go out to the families and communities affected and we echo and support the words of the grandfather of Kumanjayi Baby Girl, Warren Williams the chair of the land council “that now is not the time for town camps to be used as a political football”.
CHCA provides tenancy management to the town camps under a contract with the NT Government. We work closely with the Incorporated Associations of each of the Town Camps to fairly allocate housing as it becomes available, and we work within the Residential Tenancies Act to manage within those constraints, matters such as anti-social behaviours, visitor management, rental arrears and vacancy management.
The best way to understand Town Camps is that they are NT Government owned public housing managed under contract with characteristics common to any entirely rental public housing estate throughout Alice Springs or the Territory.
It is a fair statement to note that the condition of public housing across the Territory is parlous, costs more than other jurisdictions, has higher vacancy levels because of higher use and overcrowding and has a far more complex and vulnerable tenant base, these characteristics are shared with the Town Camps.
CHCA continues to work closely with the Town Camp Housing Associations, with the Department of Housing and the tenants and residents of the town camps to provide services under complex arrangements and at the same time working with Tangentyere Council whose board is made up of each of the Town Camp presidents.
Tangentyere and CHCA are proposing a new model, that has taken a decade to finalise, to Government; Federal, Territory and their respective advisory bodies to bring Town Camps under a new integrated community control model, and if anything positive is to come from the current spotlight, as politically motivated and divisive as it is, it may be just this.
Ken Marchingo AM
CEO
Community Housing Central Australia
Statement – Setting the Record Straight
Click here to view this document from our partners Tangtenyere who are responding to criticism across many media platforms and addressing the facts.
Previously known as Central Australia Affordable Housing Company, we’re now known as Community Housing Central Australia.
* Important Update on the CHCA Application and Waitlist Process
Community Housing Central Australia (CHCA) is making changes to how we manage applications for our long-term social housing and our affordable Housing Programs in compliance with privacy laws and best practice.
As part of this transition:
- CHCA will no longer hold a waitlist. If you currently have an application with CHCA for any program, please be advised that it is no longer active.
Personal information is only retained for as long as necessary, and applications that are no longer needed will be securely deleted. - For social housing, CHCA is moving to a single housing register managed by the Department of Housing. Referrals for long-term social housing will now come directly from this centralised register.
- We are ceasing new applications for social housing and will no longer maintain a waiting list.
For future affordable housing opportunities including My Place:
- All vacancies will be advertised on the CHCA website (www.chca.org.au) and realestate.com. We may also seek referrals from the Department of Housing.
There is no change to the referral process for our transitional housing program at South Terrace where we accept referrals from support agencies and the Department of Housing.
The current application process for the Tangentyere Town Camps for which CHCA provided Tenancy Management Services remains unchanged.
We appreciate your understanding as we work to align with updated processes and ensure a fair and transparent approach to housing referrals. If you have any questions, please contact us for more information.
RESIDENTS
HOMES
%
ABORIGINAL TENANTS
Community Housing
Options for affordable, social and supported housing.
My Place Program
Supporting people to independent living in the private rental market.
Town Camps
Options for affordable, social and supported housing.
Projects
Development of affordable housing and recent projects.
