Our $5m Wollongong Affordable Housing and Home Ownership Program has been approved.

Stephen Woodlands, HSH Founder and Managing Director

Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM

Our $5 million program to help address the housing affordability crisis and the intergenerational impacts of housing insecurity was signed off by Wollongong City Council last night.

The program provides eligible renters living in the Wollongong local government area with affordable rental housing and a pathway to home ownership.

Approved participants will rent a property owned by us and managed by participating community housing providers with affordable rent for up to five years, while saving and preparing for home ownership.

Our clients will also receive Head Start Homes’ Enhanced Empowerment Services, including financial coaching, homebuyer education, and ongoing support from multiple organisations across the housing and homeownership eco-system. Participants may also have a conditional option to buy their rental property from us at a discount or another property of their choice, should they be approved for a home loan from a bank.

We will then recycle the funds from the sale to purchase another affordable rental home to provide another household in need the opportunity to participate in the program.

Head Start Homes Founder and Managing Director, Stephen Woodlands, said the program was based on the organisation’s vision for a safe and stable home for everyone with fair and practical pathways into home ownership.

“When you remove housing stress, people's lives can be transformed in so many ways. This innovative program will give struggling renters in the Wollongong local government area better housing and home ownership outcomes” he said.
“Having more safe, stable and affordable homes with fairer pathways into home ownership will also have profound positive flow-on effects for the local community whilst also helping to reduce intergenerational poverty for our clients and their children.

Mr Woodlands said the program would run for at least 20 years, with anticipated perpetual benefits due to its recycling nature.

"Our heartfelt thanks to Wollongong City Council and to our amazing volunteers, staff and supporters including our 100 plus supporter organisations,” he said.

Mr Woodlands also extended a special thanks to the businesses and charities who supported their tender bid for the program including, Westpac, the Aboriginal Housing Office, Link Wentworth Housing, Habitat for Humanity, Stockland, the Centre for Social Finance law, Impact Investing Australia, Social Enterprise Finance Australia and MinterEllison.

Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said he was pleased to see the program start supporting people and families living in the Wollongong Local Government Area to find home security.

“We have a commitment to supporting the procurement of affordable homes. While affordable housing isn’t something we can directly deliver on our own, by partnering with not-for-profit organisations such as Head Start Homes, Council can help address this enormous challenge,” Cr Bradbery said.

“We look forward to working with Head Start Homes to make a difference. This program will benefit the lives of some Wollongong residents who are facing financial hardship and cannot access safe housing by themselves. This is quite an innovative program and while there’s more work to be done in this space, it will be wonderful to see the long-term benefits of this partnership in action.”

HSH Chair, Vanessa Chan, said delivery of the program aligned with the organisation’s goal to create innovative new pathways to housing security for disadvantaged families and break down barriers to home ownership.

“This partnership enables the delivery of outcomes to families under housing stress who would otherwise never have an opportunity to own a home or build intergenerational wealth. These families are supported throughout the process and the program recycles. It's a game changer with many opportunities to scale. ," she said. 

Expressions of interest in the program are now open you can learn more by clicking here.

If you’re a local business or community organisation and would like to be a part of this innovative program, reach out to: contact@headstarthomes.org.au

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About Head Start Homes 

With our vision for a safe and stable home for everyone with fair and practical pathways to home ownership, Head Start Homes is advancing a more equitable home ownership system by disrupting homelessness, intergenerational poverty and cycles of disadvantage. 

We achieve this by providing innovative products and services that empower our clients to achieve their home ownership dreams and exit rental accommodation. To be eligible, clients must meet income thresholds or live in social or affordable housing. Most of our clients are single mums, First Nations Peoples or households with a disability. 

With the support of more than 100 businesses, government agencies and charities, we foster innovation and collaboration to achieve our vision. We are accredited as a not-for-profit, tax-exempt community service organisation. 

*Terms, conditions and eligibility criteria apply. Subject to availability and funding. Head Start Homes is not a home loan lender and does not provide financial advice. Head Start Homes Limited ACN 620 944 532