Stakeholder engagement and co-design process

DCJ contracted the Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA NSW) to consult the community housing sector and others about the foundation principle and operating objectives of the initial Community Housing Innovation Fund (CHIF).   

A co-design workshop was held on 15 February 2019 where the government’s strategic intent and expectations were clarified and participants asked to help design the broad outline of the CHIF.  These principles have been applied to all Return for Grant Funding Tenders since - including this current SHAF RFGT process.

Participants included CHP’s, local councils, specialist homelessness services, property developers, academics and other interested parties.  

Almost all the feedback from the co-design workshop was incorporated into the CHIF program design and procurement process.

Key elements adopted included:

Scalable tenders with a minimum bid of $500,000 and a maximum bid of $5 million to enable small and large CHPs to tender  

• A simple low cost tendering process using fixed word limits, summary tables and reasonable submission timeframes (5 weeks)  
• Use of other’s information, e.g. the Registrar of Community Housing, to support assessments and provide assurance that proponents are financially viable, have sound governance arrangements, and meet the service outcomes for tenancy management, property management and community engagement.
• That the tender design and contracting template is repeatable and transferrable for others to use.  This simple tender approach can be used by any entity to transact with CHPs to minimise their costs and expedite their procurement and delivery of social and affordable housing projects by CHPs.