Two reports released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) show tenants of community and public housing are satisfied overall with the services they receive from their housing organisation or Housing Authority.
The reports, 2005 Public Housing National Social Housing Survey: key results and 2005 Community Housing National Social Housing Survey: key results, indicate that 71% of public housing tenants were satisfied overall with the service provided by their Housing Authority, while 85% of community housing tenants were also satisfied with the service from their housing organisation.
David Wilson of the Institute's Housing Assistance Unit said that 'in both cases high levels of satisfaction were reported with the way staff treated tenants, with public housing tenants most satisfied overall with the day-to-day maintenance services provided'.
'Seventy-eight per cent of public housing tenants said their amenity needs, such as size of home and ease of access, were met and a further 86% were happy that their location needs were also being met'.
Tenants from both the community housing (74%) and public housing (63%) sector said that their quality of life had improved since moving into their housing.
'Benefits identified by tenants living in either public or community housing included feeling more settled, being better able to manage their rent and finances, and being able to remain living in the area' Mr Wilson said.
In both public (45%) and community (46%) housing, most households were made up of single people living alone, with 81% of public and 80% of community housing tenants receiving their main source of income from a government pension or a benefit of some description.
Nearly half (46%) of community housing tenants said that they or a member of their household had a disability or health condition that limited their ability to participate in activities or for which assistance was required.
A total of 49% of public housing tenants stated that they were not looking for, or available for work, with the main reasons given as unable to work (55%) and having a permanent medical condition (43%).
