Agency details
Name: Urban Communities Limited
Registration Category: Housing Provider
Registration Date: 1 May 2009
Agency contacts
CEO: George Housakos
Chairperson: The Hon Michael Duffy
Address: 42 Derby Street, Kensington, VIC 3031
Website: www.urbancommunities.com.au
Office phone number (03) 9371 2000
Agency mission
Urban Communities’ mission is to create great places to live. It is committed to place making, and is
guided by four beliefs:
•
We are a change agent — we aim to influence the way residents, governments and businesses
view mixed tenure communities
•
Having high proportions of people with complex issues does not limit the creation of healthy and
diverse communities
•
The creation of healthy and diverse communities does not require higher operating or capital
costs (relative to less diverse communities) even though we achieve better and more enduring
outcomes
•
Innovation and the application of good business principles are the foundation of our success.
Registered agency profile continued
Key statistics – as at 30 June 2014
Housing properties under management – Total 643
Long Term 643
Transitional 0
Crisis 0
plus over 300 private properties as part of r
Properties in agency ownership – 15
Tenancy units under management – Total 643
Long Term 643
Transitional 0
Crisis 0
Tenancy units in agency ownership – Total 15
Staffing – Total number 33 Total EFT 28.0
Total assets as at 30 June 2014 – $6,369,428
Annual turnover for financial year ended 30 June 2014 – $3,839,984
Operational surplus/(deficit) financial year ended 30 June 2014 – $277,878
Scope of operations
Housing – Long term accommodation
Housing support services (for public/social housing residents) – Housing information & referral
Other services – Community building, property management, owners’ corporation management, facilities
management
Client group/s– Singles, families, homeless/priority public housing waiting list
Key partnerships
The agency has a number of key partners including:
>
Victorian Government
>
South Australian Government
>
Hanover Welfare Services
>
Westpac.
Registered agency profile continued
Agency history
Urban Communities is a private, not-for-profit company that delivers place management and urban
regeneration in four locations in Melbourne and Adelaide. We manage four regenerated places in Kensington,
Fitzroy, Coburg and the Adelaide central business district using an innovative service model that integrates
public, social, affordable and private housing in vibrant, mixed communities. We create great places to live.
Over time, Urban Communities has developed a place making approach that brings together a diverse set of
professional skills. This integrated model incorporates property management, facilities management, owners
corporation management and community building services.
Urban Communities had its origins in the redevelopment of the Kensington Public Housing Estate. The Estate
was identified as an area that would benefit from a shift to a mix of public and private homes - a change that
would physically and socially integrate the estate back into the surrounding suburb of Kensington. The
Redevelopment project was launched in 2002.
Urban Communities evolved from a joint partnership between the Victorian State Government and the
redevelopment property developer, who shared a vision for on-site place management and an integrated
approach to public and private housing, creating a vibrant and connected community. The concept of place
management and the building of a community was embraced as important as the built form.
Urban Communities was incorporated in 2007 and in the same year gained a Real Estate licence. In May
2009, Urban Communities was registered as a Housing Provider.
Subsequently, Urban Communities has expanded through targeted opportunities to implement and refine its
integrated place management model in more inner city locations. These include the Nicholson development in
East Coburg, the 150 Brunswick Street project in Fitzroy and the UNO apartments in central Adelaide. More
information about these projects can be found on the Urban Communities website.
Legal structure
Urban Communities Ltd is a company limited by guarantee and governed by an independent board of
directors.