Regional Housing Support Fund

What type of projects are eligible for consideration for funding?

The RHSF may contribute funds to assist with reducing feasibility gaps in relation to essential infrastructure and construction costs associated with delivering key worker dwellings, community housing or residential lots.

Funds may be contributed for eligible costs associated with site preparation, supply of water, wastewater, electricity or telecommunication connections, construction or upgrade of roads and construction costs for key worker dwellings or community housing.

Projects must be located within, or in the vicinity of an existing regional centre, townsite or community within regional WA, excluding the Perth and Peel region.

For a project to be eligible for consideration of funding, it must result in the timely delivery of either (or a combination) of:

• New self-contained housing for affordable purchase or lease by key workers, located within a reasonable vicinity to employment locations and amenity and services.
• Community housing accommodation.
• New serviced lots for residential dwellings.

Applications must propose the delivery of three or more dwellings and/or the delivery of three or more residential lots. For dwellings, this can be across multiple lots if the delivery is being undertaken as a single package. For subdivision, the proposed lots must be on a single contiguous site.

Who are key workers?

For the purpose of this Fund, key workers include, but are not limited to, skilled and semi-skilled workers employed in the following industries:

• Childcare
• Education
• Emergency Services
• Government employees
• Healthcare
• Hospitality
• Retail
• Tourism
• Trades and Manufacturing
• Transport and Logistics

Projects for mining/resource worker accommodation are not eligible.

On-site worker accommodation proposals are not eligible.

What does affordable housing mean?

While this may look different through out parts of regional WA, affordable housing is generally considered to be housing that is accessible for purchase or rent for moderate to low-income households where the servicing of a mortgage or lease payments costs no more than 30% of their gross income.

How much funding can I apply for?

There is no cap on the amount of funding that a project can request to address a demonstrated feasibility gap for an eligible project, noting that the total funding pool of the RHSF is $25 million. However, where a funding request exceeds $5 million, additional Government consideration will be required.

Partial or full funding for a project may be granted for successful applications.

Is there a minimum or required level of co-contribution?

The purpose of the Regional Housing Support Fund is to assist with addressing feasibility gaps, which can vary across projects and regions.

There is no minimum level of co-contribution required, however, the amount or percentage of co-contribution will be one of the assessment factors considered in awarding funding when considering benefits the applicant will derive from the project.

Projects which demonstrate high levels of co-contribution and leveraging of other funding sources, including private investment are likely to be more competitive than projects which are seeking a more substantial grant from the Fund.

The Assessment Criteria for the RHSF can be found on pages 8 and 9 of the Regional Housing Support Fund Guidelines for Applicants.

What if I need more time to submit my application or provide the supporting documentation requested for the business case?

The submission period reflects that this program is aimed at projects that are sufficiently progressed or “shovel ready”. Sufficiently scoped projects are expected to have documentation and costings that can be shaped into an application within the allocated submission period.

Projects at a preliminary design or concept stage that do not have sufficient supporting information are unlikely to be considered complete or to be competitive when evaluated against more mature proposals.

I know my project will take longer to complete than the two years (for subdivision) or four years (for construction) requirement noted in the Guidelines for Applicants. Can I still put in my submission?

The grant process is a competitive process and projects that have a longer timeframe to complete may not be successful for grants from the Fund at this time.  Projects that reflect a longer completion period are unlikely to be as competitive as projects that are “shovel ready” and can demonstrate completion can be achieved within the required two or four years.

However, if the project is to be completed in stages, (e.g ten dwellings proposed in two stages with the first stage completed within four years), this should be demonstrated in the application, including a breakdown of costs for each stage.

Can I be reimbursed for costs that have already been paid?

No. Costs incurred before an application is approved are not eligible for funding.

Can the Department assist me with drafting or submitting an application?

The Department can provide general advice and support with using SmartyGrants and can also advise on whether your business and proposed activities may be considered eligible for the RHSF. However, we cannot assist with drafting or reviewing your application content. This is to maintain fairness and integrity to the application and evaluation process.

If funding has already been received for the project from another source (for example, Department of Communities, Lotterywest) can an application still be made to the RHSF?

Yes, an application can be made to the RHSF for eligible projects and costs, however funding cannot be granted for the same costs that are funded through another program.

Applicants will need to advise of all funding sources for a project including other grant programs as part of their application. This must include details of what funding has been granted and the purpose of that funding (i.e. which elements of a project it is paying for, such as infrastructure, construction, design drawings etc.).

I have lots that can be developed that are close to town but not in town, can these be considered?

For a project to be eligible for consideration of funding, it will be required to be located within (or in the vicinity of) an existing regional centre, townsite or community within regional Western Australia excluding the Perth and Peel Metropolitan region. Genuine regional proposals in the outer Peel region (i.e. Boddington and Waroona) may be considered where justified.

I have a housing proposal, but it isn’t for key workers or community housing, can I still apply?

Applicants will need to demonstrate how the proposed dwellings will be made available as, or be managed and maintained as, key worker dwellings or community housing for a period of five to ten years.

If the application is successful, a provision may be included in the Funding Agreement, of a minimum period for retention to ensure the dwellings are available for existing key workers in the town or community housing providers.

Can funding be sought for a mixed use development that includes dwellings?

Projects for mixed use developments that include dwellings (e.g apartment building that includes commercial tenancies) can be considered, however, the application would need to demonstrate that the project meets the eligibility and assessment criteria. This includes demonstrating development approval has been granted or could be granted, the dwellings are for key workers or community housing, and the development can be completed within the required timeframes.

The application will also need to demonstrate what percentage of the costs relate to the dwelling development separate from the costs for the rest of the development.

I only have estimates of costs for some elements of my project, can I still submit an application?

Applications must demonstrate a high degree of certainty of the costs (and breakdown) for the items they’re seeking funding for, as well as the overall project. The estimate of funds being sought should be provided by a service provider, or an appropriately qualified cost estimator or quantity surveyor.

The level of certainty should be proportional to the scale of the proposal, and applicants should identify the level of certainty of the costing they are providing in their application as well as how any shortfall in funding is proposed to be addressed, in the event that final costs exceed those estimated.

Projects with detailed costing are likely to be more competitive than projects with high level estimates as detailed costing assists with demonstrating the maturity and feasibility of the projects.

Is there a standard template for the required business case to make an application?

There isn’t a specific template for the business case that is to accompany applications as proposals can vary greatly.

A business case must be uploaded with the SmartyGrants application and is required to address the objectives, eligibility and assessment criteria as outlined within the Guidelines for Applicants (including appendices) and should be proportional in the level of detail to the scale of the application.

Will you contact me if there are problems with or questions about my application?

Once the application period closes, applicants may be contacted to clarify incomplete or missing information, for example administrative details such as a scanned page not legible, address not complete, incorrect date entered etc. No material changes to an application will be accepted.

Who will have access to the information submitted with the application?

Information submitted as part of the application is accessible by the Department but cannot be amended, deleted or modified except for clarification purposes.

During the assessment process advice may be sought from WA Government agencies or service authorities to assist in the assessment or to verify statements or costs provided by applicants. Where this occurs, details of the application may be provided to assist with this process.

Information will also be provided to the Evaluation Panel and Government, through the Residential Housing and Land Delivery Ministerial Oversight Committee.

Who makes the decision on my application?

Once the application submission period closes, applications will be reviewed for completeness and eligibility.

Applications that are deemed to be eligible will be assessed by an Evaluation Panel that will form a recommendation for each application.

The Evaluation Panel recommendations will then be considered by Government, through the Residential Lands and Housing Delivery Ministerial Oversight Committee who will make the final decision.

How will I find out if my application is successful?

The decision to grant funding is made by the Government’s Residential Lands and Housing Delivery Ministerial Oversight Committee. It is expected that applicants will be notified via email/phone once a decision is made and successful applications have been publicly announced.

When notified, successful applicants will also be advised of any obligations or next steps for entering into a Funding Agreement.

I have another question that is not answered here

If after reading these FAQs you have a question or concern regarding your application, please contact RHSF@dplh.wa.gov.au or by calling 6551 8002.

These FAQs may be updated with additional content during the application period based on queries received.