House to Home
Overview
From a House to a Home (House to Home) supports families to transform their run down public houses into clean, safe and secure homes that they can purchase through Bayan1. House to Home is a step towards preparing for home ownership.
The houses are usually in poor condition having waited long periods of time for necessary maintenance. House to Home works with the Queensland Governments’ Remote Indigenous Land Program Office (RILPO) to move the House to Home properties on to the renovation schedule so families are not waiting years to purchase their homes. RILPO will transfer the funding allocation for the renovation of each property to the House to Home project.
The houses can then be renovated to a suitable ‘sale standard’. A House to Home Renovation Consultant works with the family to develop a renovation plan. The renovations are undertaken by experienced interior designers, and qualified builders.
To be eligible, families must have no rent in arrears; hold a current tenancy agreement and agree to contribute ‘sweat equity’ to the renovation, which is the physical work that engenders ongoing pride and responsibility.
Families who sign up to from a House to Home are required to do a plan through the MPower money management program, that assists families to meet their basic needs and build wealth. Through an MPower Conversation, coaches work with families to map out where they are in their lives, where they want to be and what they need to do to get there. Participants set goals, build family budgets and receive follow up coaching sessions to help them stay on track. House to Home is open to families in the four welfare reform communities through their local Opportunity Hub (O-Hub)2.
Objectives
• To switch on the ‘home gene’ within families so they lead the transformation of houses into homes, through active involvement in the design and contributing ‘sweat equity’ to their renovations
• Homes are professionally renovated to the required sale standard so families can proceed to purchase under the Bayan program.
Funding and partnerships
House to Home is a key component of the Housing Stream of the Cape York Welfare Reform Agenda – a tripartite partnership between the Australian and Queensland Governments, and Cape York Partnerships. Welfare Reform currently operates in Aurukun, Coen, Hope Vale and Mossman Gorge.
The Remote Indigenous Land and Infrastructure Program Office (RILIPO) commenced a 10 year program to coordinate the roll out of an extensive maintenance and upgrade program of social housing in Cape York pursuant to National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing (NPARIH). House to Home will work closely with RILPO to ensure participants receive the support they need.
Alignment with the Cape York Agenda
CYP’s role is to implement the social, economic and cultural development goals of the Cape York Agenda, developed by indigenous leaders from Cape York. CYP has developed a Third Way to enable Aboriginal families to move from passive welfare dependency to real economic participation. This Third Way shifts from passive service delivery to an approach that combines personal and family responsibility, capabilities development and tangible opportunity products to enable individual and family pathways to a better life.
The case for reform
Many Cape York families live in overcrowded houses that are in desperate need of repair. Often, basics like food storage, cooking, shower and toilet facilities are not functional3. Overcrowding, poor construction and maintenance and the anti-social behaviours of some, all negatively impact on the health and well being of children and others who occupy the household4. The situation is at crisis point and requires immediate action. The land tenure systems in the region hinder the establishment of a private property market so home ownership or private rentals are not possible. This effectively means public housing is the only option.
Research indicates that Indigenous families, like most Australians, aspire to live in safe, healthy and attractive homes they can take pride in. They want opportunities to gain employment, own their own home, and want to make their homes more liveable.
There is considerable international research to indicate the public health benefits for families and communities who participate in home beautification and ownership programs.
Cape York Partnerships (CYP) is working with Cape York Institute, Cape York Land Council, Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation and Governments to resolve the significant and complex structural barriers to home ownership. CYP has developed a suite of projects that support each other to achieve the goal of home ownership in Cape York.
House to Home is just one ‘piece of the jigsaw’ along with Pride of Place5, Home Ownership Opportunity Port6, and Bush Owner Builder7. House to Home participants will sign up to Bayan to prepare them for transition to home ownership.
1. Bayan is a financial case management platform supporting aspiring home owners transition to home ownership.
2. O-Hubs are purpose built community centres staffed by a team of professionals that include local people, who offer individuals and families access to a range of opportunity products. These products are designed to support personal responsibility and increase participation in education, employment, financial management, housing and other endeavours.
3. Australian Government Productivity Commission, Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage Report, Remote Areas Key Indicators, Canberra, 2009.
4. Garner, G 2006, The ecology and inter-relationship of between housing and health outcomes. Retrieved August 10, 2007, from http://eprints.qut.edu.au/archive/00007216/01/7216.pdf
5. Pride of Place supports families to invest effort and money in small-scale renovation projects that enhance their backyards.
6. Home Ownership Opportunity Port supports families to increase their life choices through mobility, employment and home ownership.
7. Bush Owner Builder supports families to build their own simple climate-conscious bush homes on their traditional lands.