FAQs

Costs associated with developing or strengthening strategic asset management and strategic asset management plans are eligible. Business planning, including consolidation, is eligible if applications can demonstrate that the consolidation process is required to position an organisation to grow.

Work that has already started is generally considered an existing operating expense and is not eligible for funding.

However, if your project is structured in distinct phases and the grant application relates to a new phase that has not yet commenced, that phase may be eligible. Eligibility may depend on the timing, structure, and planning of the project.

Yes, having your assets assessed for investment and divestment opportunities in order to build a redevelopment pipeline is within scope.

Community Housing Providers (CHPs) can apply to be on the Approved Advisory Panel for the Community Housing Futures Program. This decision came from CHPs who expressed their desire to collaborate with more growth experienced CHPs to advance their growth initiatives.

The identified benefits include facilitating knowledge sharing, fostering partnerships, and innovation within the community housing sector. It is encouraged that organisations possessing capabilities in growth-related activities and who are interested in sharing their expertise with other CHPs, consider applying to join the Approved Advisory Panel here.

CHPs who wish to join the panel will need to undertake the same application process as any other consultant, which includes demonstrating specific skills, relevant qualifications and memberships, and adequate insurance.

It’s essential to note that CHPs serving on the Advisory Panel will not be eligible to apply for grant funding for the same activity which they are providing guidance for.

CHPs are encouraged to take an active role in shaping the future and strengthening the QLD community housing sector through collaboration and expertise sharing.

Grants can be used for additional internal personnel to deliver a proposed program of work focused on achieving sustainable growth. They cannot be used for existing staff or operations.

Yes, a grant application can include more than one professional service. A proposal would need to be included in your application from each professional service.

It is a requirement for the General Stream, Grant Category 2, which has higher grant amounts of $100,000 to $250,000 available. Partnership may involve organisations collaborating to pursue larger objectives, achieve better outcomes, and drive stronger growth. CHPs may partner with one or more CHPs, the Government, private
sector and other funding partners.

If an application involves a partnership between two or more CHPs, only one application is required, with one CHP acting as the lead applicant and the partner CHPs listed in the application form.

For Grant Category 2, projects will need to demonstrate:

• Alignment with the Queensland Government’s housing objectives
• Growth in the supply of social and affordable housing within the next three to five years.
• Impact beyond a single project, with long-term benefits to housing supply and broader system capacity.
• Strategic partnerships with other organisations, including CHP’s, Government, private sector or other funding partners.

To show Impact beyond a single project, applications should outline how the project creates enduring benefits rather than a one-off outcome. The application should clearly outline the magnitude, scale, and sustainability of these impacts to demonstrate how the project contributes to long-term housing solutions and broader system capacity.

Registered CHPs can be searched by region here. It is a good idea to visit each of the CHP’s websites to find out more about them, what they do and the cohorts they house.

The Community Housing Futures Program aims to enhance the capability and capacity of CHPs and ICHOs to deliver social and affordable housing growth programs. This includes increasing the capability and capacity to: 

• Diversify operating models to increase social and affordable housing 
• Develop and participate in partnerships to deliver more social and affordable housing 
• Secure funding for social and affordable housing growth programs. 

To achieve the above, organisations will have opportunities to apply for business advisory services grants and participate in training or use tools and resources that the program develops.

The overall Program Evaluation will consider aggregated and anonymised data, including the size and location of the organisations involved. Surveys involving the consultants and organisations will capture perceptions of the benefits and process improvements to the program. We encourage successful applicants to document their project quarterly to ensure a smooth acquittal process.

There is no minimum.

A total of $4million in funding over two years was committed to capacity building activities in 2022-2024.

From January 2025, the Queensland Government, through the Department of Housing and Public Works, has provided a further $4 million (GST Exclusive) to extend the Community Housing Futures Program for an additional two years. The purpose of the Program has been refined to focus on growth and concentrating on initiatives for Community Housing Providers (CHPs) and Indigenous Controlled Housing Organisations (ICHOs) who are growing or are likely to grow their housing portfolios. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Queensland, CHIA Queensland and Q Shelter are delivering the CHFP with Q Shelter as the auspice body. 

The co-contribution has been set by the Governance Group of the program inclusive of CHIA Qld, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Queensland and Q Shelter in addition to Queensland Treasury and the Department of Housing and Public Works. The intention is to maximise the funds available to reach as many CHOs as possible. Co-contributions can either be in-kind or financial. The information package about the Grants is due to be released very soon and frequently asked questions will be updated regularly so information that is relevant to all potential applicants is universally available and easy to access.

• Grants of up to $250,000.00 (ex GST) for CHPs and ICHOs are available depending on the grant stream applied for. Grants are to exclusively cover the cost of consultancy services by a professional service or additional personnel to enable internal capability uplift. Grant funds will not be approved for general operating or existing staff costs.
• Projects can extend over 12-18 months depending on grant amount, timing, and location.
• CHPs and ICHOs can use their own preferred professional services provider, not just the professional services panel. The provider would need to be approved by the Project Team and hold relevant skills/qualifications to undertake the work. The professional services provider would be invited to join the panel if their capabilities and experiences may be of relevance to other CHPs and ICHOs, however this is optional.
• Applications must include a proposal and quote from the professional service(s) panel member if they intend to engage with one for grant funding.
• Grant funding will be paid in milestones that will be determined against the project plan supplied by the applicant.

Successful organisations must:

• Enter into a funding agreement with Q Shelter.
• Enter into a contract with a professional service (if using one) directly for their project and manage the entire project delivery.
• Contribute to the program evaluation through timely input to interviews, surveys and the submission of a brief project report and acquittal.

Community Housing Futures is committed to a thorough evaluation of the program.

Grant applications collect information that enable the assessment and approval of grants. Information collected in the grant application process is also designed to enable evaluation of the program purpose and objectives.

No information about individual CHPs will be reported in an identifying way. Aggregate and anonymised data will be reported in the evaluation. The purpose of this data is to:

• drive formative program improvements
• contribute to program evaluation
• support future assessment of sector capacity needs for the purposes of designing capacity and capability building programs, projects, and activities.

The Declaration and Privacy Statement on the Grant Application has now been updated to more clearly reflect this.

General Grant Stream 

The General grants stream is targeted to organisations that are growth-ready or likely to grow and meet the eligibility criteria. 

Organisations must meet all the following criteria to be eligible for funding under this stream: 

• Organisations must be a community housing provider or an Indigenous Community Housing Organisation (under the National Regulatory System for Community Housing (NRSCH), or the Queensland State Regulatory System for Community Housing (QSRSCH). 

• Organisations must be delivering or intending to deliver additional housing supply in Queensland. 

• Organisations must have supply growth as a strategic objective. 

Indigenous Community Housing Grant Stream 

Organisations must meet all the following criteria to be eligible for funding under this stream: 

• Organisations must be an Indigenous Community Housing Organisation that is NRSCH or QRSCH registered or intends to become registered. 

• Organisations must be delivering or intending to deliver additional housing supply in Queensland. 

Organisations that were recipients of a grant during Round 1 and Round 2 of the Community Housing Futures Business Advisory Program are eligible to submit applications provided all previous acquittals have been completed. 

Community Housing Futures Governance Group

The Programs Governance Committee is made up of representatives from the Department of Housing and Public Works, the CEO of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Housing Queensland, the CEO of Community Housing Industry Association of QLD and a representative from the Q Shelter management committee who is independent from Community Housing Providers (CHPs). There are no CHPs on the Governance Committee of the program. In order to seek sector feedback to ensure the program meets and continues to meet sector need, the program relies on the peak organisations mentioned above, environmental scanning and feedback from CHPs.

Q Shelter’s CEO is part of the delivery team and as such reports to the Governance Group.

The role of Q Shelter Management Committee

Q Shelter’s management committee is ultimately responsible for oversight of contract delivery. Reports about the program’s delivery to Q Shelter management committee include risk reporting, financial reports and program milestones to demonstrate the delivery of the contract. No identifying information about CHPs is included in Q Shelter reporting to its management committee.

The role of other participating peak/industry associations

Each peak/industry body will provide reports on progress to their own governing body. No reporting to governing bodies will include identifying information about CHPs.

Key points

• Early in the Program’s development, it was decided and formalised that the Governing bodies of the participating peaks would not assist in the detailed design of the program including the grants because they consist of CHPs that may intend to apply for grants or other services, and this may result in an unfair advantage.
• Design of this program and program delivery decisions will be made by the Community Housing Futures Governance Group and not the governing bodies of the participating peaks.
• No identifying information about individual CHPs will be provided to governing bodies of the participating peaks.
• Oversight to the Approved Advisory Panel Grants Program methodology will rest entirely with the Community Housing Futures Governance Group.

Meet Eligibility: All eligibility criteria specified under Eligibility in the Grant Guidelines must be met.

Purpose (17%): How the project aligns with the program’s purpose and objectives and the organisation’s strategic growth.

Outcomes and Impact (17%): How the project aligns with the eligibility criteria and activities in each grant stream.

Growth and Timing (33%): Grants will be prioritised for organisations with proposed projects that support growth in the supply of social and affordable housing in
Queensland.

Capacity (17%): How the proposed project demonstrates the capability and capacity to manage the project successfully, including a project plan and timeline

Value for Money (16%): The proposed project demonstrates value for money and has an in-kind or financial co-contribution by the CHP.

You will be able to find the guidelines on the first page of the grant’s portal, they can also be found HERE. For reference, the first iteration of the program’s guidelines can be found HERE.

Tools and resources will be available to access organisation wide, however face-to-face or webinar learning sessions and workshops will be topic specific so it is best to choose people from your organisation that the topic is most relevant too to attend.

The Community Housing Futures team have already commenced travel to many regions across Queensland and is eager to hear from you.

You can express interest HERE if you would like to discuss a regional consultation or speak with the team directly.