Allocations to the new Housing development in Redfern East

Questions and Answers

The redevelopment site at Redfern East is situated at Philip, Walker, Kettle and Morehead Streets Redfern. Construction on this site commenced in May 2009 and will be completed in November this year.

Allocation of these properties will be undertaken in a number of fair and transparent ways. This sheet hopes to provide some information and answers to commonly asked questions.

What type and number of public housing properties be available at Redfern East?

• There are 106 units in total. 66 of these are seniors living units (over 55 years or over 45 years for Aboriginal persons), and 40 of these are town houses which are 'general housing' (no particular category).
• There are 44 x 1 bedroom Senior Units, and 22 x 2 bedroom Senior Units, 8 of which are fully accessible.
• There are 13 x 2 bedroom Town houses, 23 x 3 bedroom Town houses and 4 x 4 bedroom Town houses.

Will these properties all be allocated in the same way?

Housing NSW will allocate a majority of the dwellings from 'The Ballot', but will also take this opportunity to allocate some properties to applicants who:

• are on the priority housing or transfer lists for modified accommodation
• are on the priority housing or transfer lists for seniors accommodation
• are on other priority housing or transfer lists
• Are under occupying their dwelling.

Residents or applicants cannot request to specifically be offered a property in the new redevelopment site and cannot be guaranteed of receiving one even if they participate in the ballot process or have a currently approved transfer or priority housing application.

Who is eligible for a home in Redfern East?

• Current tenants of Redfern who are selected from the ballot, and meet the eligibility criteria included on the application form
• People who are on the priority housing or transfer lists for modified accommodation of 1 or 2 Bedrooms in the CS1 allocation zone
• People who are on other priority housing or transfer lists for 2, 3 or 4 bedroom accommodation

Anyone selected from the transfer or priority housing lists will be chosen based on their wait time, need to reside in Redfern and eligibility for the type of property (bedroom category, modifications, dwelling type).

The Ballot:

Why has Housing NSW decided on a ballot system for the Redfern East properties?

Housing NSW knows that strong neighbourhoods and sustainable communities are best reached with a good social mix.

A ballot is a way of ensuring that as many people as possible have an equal opportunity to be relocated into the new premises, and is a fair way of achieving a mix of new and existing residents.

The ballot is only open to current tenants of Redfern so that people who know and like living in Redfern can continue to support their community.

The ballot allows tenants who are complying with their tenancy agreement to have the chance to move into new premises when they might otherwise not have the chance.

Who will be eligible to enter the ballot?

Only public housing tenants who have a current tenancy in Redfern are eligible to apply for the ballot.

How can I enter the ballot?

Housing NSW has sent an application to enter the ballot, to all current Tenants in Redfern. The ballot needs to be returned to the box at the Outreach Office at Gilmore building, by 12.30 on Thursday 2^nd September 2010.

The ballot is not being managed by the local team. Ballot applications will ONLY be accepted at the Outreach Office between 9.30am and 12.30 every Tuesday and Thursday.

Mail ballots will not be accepted, and other local offices will not accept ballots. How do I know you received my ballot?

The ballot box will be cleared at the end of every Outreach session, and we will send you a letter within 3 working days which tells you that your application for the ballot has been received.

Will you tell me if I am not eligible for the ballot?

Yes. If you do not meet the criteria for the ballot you will receive a letter telling you the reason why you will not be included in the ballot. Anyone not included in the ballot will be told by Friday 17th September 2010.

Can I appeal the reason I am not being included in the Ballot?

Whether or not you are included in the ballot is not appealable as such, however if you think the reason you have been excluded from the ballot is based on incorrect facts, you can ask for the Area Director to review the decision.

You will receive advice on how to do this and the deadline to provide your request, in the letter which explains why you have not been included.

How and when will you let me know if I am successful in the ballot?

Anyone who will be offered a property will be notified in writing by 30 October 2010. The letter will tell you what type of property you have been offered (unit type and bedroom category) and will invite you to come and chose your unit on a weekend in November 2010.

People who are being offered a property from the transfer or priority housing lists will be notified at the same time and given the same opportunity to select their property.

How and when will you let me know if I am unsuccessful in the ballot?

If you are not selected from the ballot you will be notified in writing by 30 October 2010.

Bedrooms and property types:

What qualifies me for an extra bedroom?

You may be offered a home with a bedroom which is one above your household size if you can substantiate Aboriginality, access to children or have medical needs such as a live-in carer, need for separate bedrooms due to medical reasons or need to store equipment such as a dialysis machine or wheelchair.

How will you chose who gets a townhouse with a backyard?

Preference will be given to those with a need to access a yard for medical reasons, and to households with children or who are relocating at the request of Housing NSW from a larger property with a yard.

Offers and moving in:

Can I appeal if I don't get a property?

No. The outcome of the ballot is not an appealable matter.

What can I do if I don't like the property type I have been selected for?

There will only be one offer made under the ballot process. If you do not like the bedroom category or property type you have been selected for you can only reject this offer, no other offers will be made and you will remain in your existing home. Offers will be made according to the information you provide in your application, so please fill this out carefully.

How many ballots will there be?

There will be one ballot only. Future allocations to the complex will be made in accordance with our normal policies and procedures.

If I am successful and I accept a property, when can I move in?

This will be determined closer to the date, but we expect the new tenancies to commence in November 2010. You will be expected to move in within 7 days of signing your new tenancy agreement.

Will Housing NSW pay for me to move if I accept an offer from the ballot? No. If you accept a property in the new development you will be accepting liability for all costs associated with the move and commencement of your tenancy. This means you will need to arrange and pay for any removalist costs, connection fees and anything else related to the move.

Will any of the people who were relocated from this site get to return?

Housing NSW has been in contact with the residents who were relocated from the site and only some of them want to return to the new homes. Those residents will receive an offer separate to the ballot and will get to choose a home before anyone else.

Some residents do not wish to return or are not eligible based on bedroom or property type.

Anything else?

What do I do if I have further questions?

If you have any further questions about the ballot or the allocation process, please contact ….

The staff at the Redfern Outreach Office can also collect your questions in writing and arrange for someone to get back to you.

As this ballot and allocation process is not being managed by the local team please do not direct your questions to them.

My question is:

Name, You can contact me by:, Phone, Mobile, Email, Name, Address, Date received: Officer Name receiving: 

BALLOT APPLICATION - FOR NEW HOMES IN REDFERN EAST

Housing NSW's redevelopment of the site bounded by Phillip, Morehead, Kettle and Walker Streets at Redfern will provide 106 new units of public housing comprised of;

• 66 Seniors' Living (44 one bedroom & 22 two bedroom) - 8 fully accessible, and
• 40 townhouses (13 two bedroom, 23 three bedroom & 4 four bedroom) — 10 fully accessible.

These new homes are expected to be completed and ready to occupy during November 2010.

As these will be the first new social housing homes provided at Redfern for a considerable period, Housing NSW is giving the local community the opportunity to reside in the new development by entering a ballot for a tenancy. Housing NSW is conducting a ballot for existing Housing NSW tenants at Redfern to determine who will get an offer of a tenancy within the Redfern Redevelopment Project.

Please note: If you were relocated from this site and have been advised you can return, you do NOT need to complete a ballot application and Housing NSW will be in contact with you separately to confirm your needs.

To be included in this ballot, you will need to complete the application on the back of this page and submit it to Housing NSW's Outreach Office located in the ground floor of the Gilmore Building at Poet's Corner, 55 Morehead Street, Redfern.

Applications will not be accepted at other Housing NSW offices. Please note that this Outreach Office is only open on Tuesday and Thursday mornings to provide client service and to accept applications for the ballot.

All applications must be completed by answering all of the questions overleaf, and you must sign before submitting the application.

The ballot closes at 12.30 on Thursday 2"^d September 2010.

Terms of eligibility

1.    You must be a current Housing NSW tenant living in Redfern

2.    You must hold a tenancy that is considered satisfactory. For a tenancy to be considered satisfactory;

• Your rental account must not be in arrears from Monday 16 August 2010 until the date of offer, &
• Your tenancy must have no orders of breaches against your tenancy made by the Consumer, Trader & Tenancy Tribunal between 1 April 2010 and the date of offer.

Tenants who submit an application that does not meet the terms of eligibility for the ballot will be notified that their application is considered ineligible. They will have the right to have the decision reviewed by the Area Director.

Please note: If you were relocated from this site and have been advised you can return, you do NOT need to complete a ballot application and Housing NSW will be in contact with you separately to confirm your needs.

Your Name:

Your Address:              REDFERN NSW 2016

Your Phone Number  

Are you a current Housing NSW Tenant?      Yes / No

How long have you been a Housing NSW tenant?    years

Have you been approved for a transfer?         Yes / No

Are you aged over 55 years?  Yes / No

Are you Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander?            Yes / No

If yes, are you aged over 45 years?    Yes / No

Are you a single person?         Yes / No

Do you need qualify for an extra bedroom?   Yes / No  On what basis?

Do you have a need for modified accommodation due to special needs? Yes / No Please detail why?

If you have any questions please call ...  If you require assistance with completing this application, please attend the Outreach Office located in the ground floor of the Gilmore Building at 55 Morehead Street, Redfern. This office is only open on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9.30 to 12.30. The ballot closes at 12.30 on. Thursday 2'^d September 2010. All applications MUST be lodged in the ballot box at the Outreach Office.

You will be notified whether this application has been accepted or if it does not meet the ballot's Terms of Eligibility. The ballot will not be conducted publicly, but will be oversighted by an independent scrutineer. All ballots which result in an offer for thee new homes will be individually notified to the tenant.

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