Community Housing Innovation Fund (CHIF) Model

The Community Housing Innovation Fund (CHIF) approach uses a co-contribution model where Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) funding is leveraged against the additional financial and non-financial resources that Community Housing Providers (CHPs) are able to contribute to new supply projects. The CHIF Grant must be used for the social housing proportion of a project. These resources include debt, capital, land, tax concessions, philanthropy etc., along with organisational and community partnerships and local networks that can support tenants who will eventually live in these properties.

This approach is unlocking new and exciting development and acquisition opportunities by partnering with the community housing sector, adding to the strong pipeline of new housing being delivered to support vulnerable people.

The CHIF seeks to enhance the viability and longer-term sustainability of the community housing sector by supporting the growth of CHP portfolios. It also seeks to support the diversity of CHPs operating within the social housing system in NSW by offering smaller grants for a range of projects thus allowing CHPs of all sizes to participate in the program. 

The CHIF co-contribution model includes the following programs:

Community Housing Innovation Fund – (Social Housing (CHIF – SH)

To deliver social housing with no specific target group.

Community Housing Innovation Fund – Domestic and Family Violence (CHIF- DFV)

To deliver social housing for women and children experiencing domestic and family violence.

Together Home Transition Program – (THTP)

To deliver social housing to facilitate the transition of Together Home Program clients (rough sleepers and those facing homelessness) into fit-for-purpose longer-term housing.

The combined CHIF Programs budget is currently $225 million.