Community Housing is a term used to describe rental housing that is affordable for people and households on low-to-moderate incomes. Community Housing is comprised of Social Housing (for low income earners) and Affordable Housing (for low-moderate income earners) that is usually owned and/or managed by Community Housing Providers like Alliance Housing WA.

Community Housing is different to Public Housing, which is housing managed by Government Department of Communities (Housing).

Community Housing tenants are able to access Commonwealth Rental Assistance, which is not available to Public Housing tenants.

Most Community Housing Providers are registered not-for-profit organisations, which allows for any profits made through the leasing of Community Housing properties to be reinvested into servicing and developing additional Community Housing properties.

Alliance Housing provides affordable housing to eligible families, singles and seniors based on Department of Communities (Housing) eligibility requirements. It is available to households on a low-to-moderate income, who may not be eligible for social housing or be able to afford to rent or buy in the private market. 

Community Housing is allocated to applicants that are on the Department of Communities (Housing) Joint Wait List (JWL) for accommodation and have indicated that they wish to be considered for Community Housing. An application form can be downloaded from their website.

The Department of Communities (Housing) manages a central list of applicants, which is shared by a number of housing providers including Alliance Housing. To be listed on the JWL you must apply directly to your local Department of Communities (Housing) office and prove that you are an eligible applicant.

When completing the Department of Communities (Housing) application remember to tick the ‘Referral to Community Housing Organisations’  box if you wish to authorise Community Housing providers like Alliance Housing WA to view your application. If you do not tick this box, Community Housing providers will not be aware of your application and will not be able to consider you for an offer of housing. If you forget to tick the ‘Referral to Community Housing Organisations’  box on the application form, or you did not select it but wish to be included for Community Housing at a later date, you can authorise the Department of Communities (Housing) to amend this question on your application.

You will be contacted by the Department of Communities (Housing) or a Community Housing Operator if you near the top of the JWL and an appropriate housing option becomes available. It is not possible to give a definite answer as to how long it will be before you receive an offer of housing from any Community Housing Operator.

When you join the JWL, you will be added to the bottom of the particular list for the property zone and size you have been approved for. Your application will move up the list as time goes on. It is only when you get to the top of the wait list that you will be offered accommodation. This process means that all applicants must wait their turn and do not get housed ahead of others on the same wait list. 

You cannot specify who you wish to be housed with and Alliance Housing WA will only be able to consider you for housing if you have indicated that you are interested in being considered for Community Housing. If you are offered a property and you decline this offer without good reason, your application will be removed from the JWL for a period of time. 

Your application will be reviewed each year by the Department of Communities (Housing) to check that you are still eligible for, and in need of, assistance. It is very important that you return this completed review as soon as possible. If your contact details or postal address change you must advise the Department of Communities (Housing) of this so that your review is sent to the correct address. 

Remember that if your application is not included for Community Housing, community housing operators will not be able to make you an offer. We are unable to tell you where you are on the wait list and any enquires should be made to the Department of Communities (Housing).