Aboriginal Housing Victoria facts for kids

Aboriginal Housing Victoria (AHV) is a special organisation that helps Aboriginal people in Victoria find safe and affordable homes. It is a not-for-profit group, which means it uses its money to help people rather than make a profit. AHV is the biggest Aboriginal housing organisation in Victoria and even in Australia. It acts as a landlord, offering homes and support to over 4,000 Aboriginal Victorians in more than 1,500 properties. They provide services that respect Aboriginal culture and traditions.

How AHV Started

For a long time, Aboriginal people in Victoria did not get proper housing from the government. The homes they did get were often not good enough. This was part of a policy that tried to make Aboriginal people live away from their traditional lands.

In the 1970s, the Australian government started to give more money for Aboriginal housing. Aboriginal leaders wanted to manage their own housing. They were tired of poor housing and unfair treatment. They believed that Aboriginal people should control their own homes and services.

In 1978, Nessie Skuta, an Aboriginal leader, said that all houses meant for Aboriginal people should be given to Aboriginal groups to manage. This was about getting back control that had been taken away.

By 1981, the Aboriginal Housing Board of Victoria (AHBV) was set up. This group was formed by Aboriginal community leaders. They worked with the Victorian Government to get suitable homes for Aboriginal Victorians. They also fought for better treatment of Aboriginal tenants.

Setting up the AHBV was a big step. It showed that Aboriginal people were taking charge of their own lives and housing. The people who started the AHBV hoped that one day the organisation would own the properties it managed. This dream has guided the organisation ever since.

In 2016, the Victorian Government announced it would give ownership of 1,522 properties, worth about $500 million, to AHV. This transfer happened over the next two years, a huge achievement for AHV.

AHV Today

Aboriginal Housing Victoria continues to provide housing services that respect Aboriginal culture. Their main goal is for Aboriginal people to own their own homes and have control over their housing future.

AHV's Goal

AHV's main goal is: "Our vision is that Aboriginal Victorians are able to secure appropriate, affordable housing as a pathway to better lives and stronger communities." This means they want all Aboriginal Victorians to have good, affordable homes. They believe this will lead to better lives and stronger communities.

What Services AHV Provides

AHV provides homes to about 4,000 low-income Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria. This is about 8% of the Aboriginal population in Victoria. They manage 1,525 properties across cities and regional areas. Most of these homes were owned by the government.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who need a home can apply to AHV. They will be put on a waiting list. If someone has a very urgent need, they might get priority housing.

Tenants pay a lower rent to AHV. AHV then takes care of the properties, including maintenance and repairs. AHV is very good at helping people keep their homes. In 2014–15, 89% of their tenants stayed in their homes.

While providing homes is their main job, AHV also works with other Aboriginal groups. They help tenants who might have extra challenges. AHV believes that Aboriginal-led organisations are the best at helping Aboriginal people. They do this without outside interference.

AHV is also a diverse organisation. It includes both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. They work together with respect and shared knowledge.

How AHV is Run

Aboriginal Housing Victoria is run as a company that helps the community. It is officially registered under several Australian laws. This means it follows strict rules and can receive tax benefits because it is a charity.

AHV is managed by a board of directors. These directors are not involved in the day-to-day running of the organisation. The chairperson is chosen by the board members. The board must have between 5 and 7 directors. Most of these directors must be Aboriginal.

Directors serve for up to three years. All directors must live in Victoria.

Key Leaders

As of 2020, the main leaders at AHV were:

• Chair – Tim Chatfield
• Deputy Chair – Ian Hamm
• CEO – Darren Smith

Important Dates

Here are some key moments in AHV's history:

• 1972: The Australian Government took over responsibility for Aboriginal Affairs.
• 1974: State governments, like Victoria, became responsible for Aboriginal housing.
• 1978: The first meeting about Aboriginal housing in Victoria was held. A committee was formed.
• 1981: The Aboriginal Housing Board of Victoria (AHBV) was officially started. Its first office opened in Collingwood.
• 1983: AHBV became a registered public company.
• 1985: The first statewide Aboriginal Housing Conference took place.
• 1988: There were community protests about evictions.
• 1989: A study began to look into AHBV owning the properties it managed.
• 1990: The study was completed.
• 1993: AHBV received ownership of its first 4 rental properties.
• 1995: AHBV moved to new offices in North Fitzroy.
• 2000: AHBV celebrated purchasing its 1000th property. They also appointed their first chief executive officer.
• 2001: AHBV celebrated its 20th Anniversary.
• 2002: AHBV received ownership of 9 more properties, bringing their total owned to 13.
• 2004: AHBV signed its first Service Agreement for tenancy management.
• 2006: The Aboriginal Housing Board of Victoria officially changed its name to Aboriginal Housing Victoria (AHV). The Victorian Government also provided more funds, bringing the total number of properties managed to 1,337.
• 2008: AHV changed its management structure to become a fully independent not-for-profit company.
• 2010: Aunty Merle Bamblett received an award for her contributions to society.
• 2012: A new set of rules (Constitution) for AHV was created.
• 2013: AHV made big changes to its organisation, hiring a new CEO and management team.
• 2014: AHV's board approved a long-term plan for 2014–2025.
• 2015: AHV made a submission to the Royal Commission into Family Violence. They also committed to becoming a White Ribbon Accredited Workplace, showing their stand against violence.
• 2016: AHV's board approved a new Child Safe Policy. The Victorian Government announced it would transfer ownership of over 500 metropolitan houses to AHV. The remaining non-metropolitan houses were transferred over the next two years. This was a huge step towards AHV owning the homes it manages.