The Community Housing Industry Association and PowerHousing Australia have officially merged as of last week to become Australian Community Housing (ACH) — the new national peak body for the community housing industry. 

While we focus first and foremost on housing justice and the housing needs and aspirations of people living on lower incomes, Shelter NSW and National Shelter have been long standing advocates for the development and growth of a strong community housing sector. To this day, we remain committed supporters of the community housing sector, where most of the growth in social housing will be occurring in the next decade and beyond, providing frank and independent advice to our community housing members and colleagues to ensure the sector can grow and flourish without losing the strong ties to community and tenants that have made the sector what it is today. 
 
ACH has announced it aims to ‘represents a united voice for the sector, supporting reform and strengthening delivery of affordable and social housing across the country.’ The new national peak body will ‘work in partnership with government, industry and community partners to support effective, coordinated delivery of secure, social and affordable homes’.  

Follow the new Australian Community Housing page for the latest on policy affecting the community housing sector, new partnerships and progress in delivery and management of community housing. 

Shelter NSW and National Shelter wish a very warm welcome to our new national peak body colleagues. We look forward to continuing working together for policy, law reform and national funding mechanisms towards housing justice.