We have contributed to a joint community legal sector submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the Public Housing Renewal Program (PHRP).     The submission outlines concerns with how the PHRP is currently formulated, including 

• inadequate community consultation to date;
• a 10 per cent increase in public housing stock and limited housing choice is entirely inadequate to meet the growing housing crisis;
• the proposed increase in one-bedroom dwellings risks displacing families;
• inappropriate planning tools and process being used;
• the proposed public private partnership is an unsustainable vehicle for delivering social housing;
• the need for greater public/private housing mix is a false assumption;
• any intended transition from public housing to community housing provider managed social housing after the PHRP risks the diminution of tenancy rights;
• due to the different operational requirements of community housing providers, they are not well-positioned to support higher risk tenancies;
• the process of relocation endangers security of tenure for returning public housing tenants; and
• residents are not being adequately informed about available independent legal advice and advocacy services.

The organisations involved in the submission are:

• Fitzroy Legal Service
• Inner Melbourne Community Legal
• Moonee Valley Legal Service
• Northern Community Legal Centre
• St Kilda Legal Service
• Tenants Union of Victoria
• West Heidelberg Legal Service