Australian Capital Territory
Housing Assistance Housing Asset Assistance Program 2008 (No 1)
Disallowable instrument DI2008-180
made under the  
Housing Assistance Act, 2007, s 19 (1) (housing assistance programs)

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Housing assistance programs reflect the policy framework for the provision of  housing assistance in the ACT. 

The Housing Assistance Act 2007 (the Act) provides for the Minister to approve housing assistance programs. An approved housing assistance program is a disallowable instrument.

Such programs are required to include the kind of assistance that may be provided, the eligibility criteria, and how decisions of the commissioner for social housing (housing commissioner) under the program may be reviewed.

Although considerably modified, the Housing Assistance Housing Asset Assistance Program 2008 (No 1) effectively replaces the Community Organisation Rental Housing Assistance Program 1987 (DI1987-1) being one of a series of programs that previously operated under the Housing Assistance Act 1987. 

Following is an outline of the provisions of the program:

Clause	Provision	
1 and 2	Name of instrument and commencement date specified.	
3	Object of the program specified.	
4	Specifies definitions relating to the program.	
5	Specifies the kinds of assistance that may be provided under the program.	
6 	Provides for the housing commissioner to make determinations for the program in accordance with the Act. These are notifiable instruments.	
7	Specifies the eligibility criteria for the forms of assistance available under the program, as applicable.	

8	Specifies the arrangements under which the housing commissioner may provide assistance to an eligible organisation.	
9	Specifies the circumstances in which the housing commissioner may, subject to the requirements of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 as applicable, withdraw assistance provided to an eligible organisation. 	
10 	Provides for the housing commissioner to request further information in relation to an application for assistance.	
11	Specifies that an offer of assistance may be subject to an eligible organisation entering into an approved agreement setting out the conditions under which assistance will be provided by the housing commissioner.   	
12	Specifies the arrangements under which a decision not to provide assistance may be reconsidered. In particular, reconsideration is required to be undertaken by a delegate other than the original decision maker.	
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