The Community Housing Industry Association
National
SGS leads consortium developing new reporting standard to demonstrate community housing industry’s ESG credentials.
The Community Housing Industry Association and a consortium of private and public sector partners have started the development of an industry specific environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting standard, putting Australia at the forefront of ESG reporting for the sector globally.
Apart from the UK, Australia will be the first country to develop a community housing ESG reporting standard, opening the way for deeper institutional investment. The reporting standard will demonstrate the added value community housing generates in driving improved economic and social outcomes and in doing so will help encourage and attract more diverse private sector lending, including from ESG investors.
The project will be a collaborative process said Dr Marcus Spiller, SGS Project Director: “The consortium will work closely with stakeholders from the housing, debt and equity sectors from the outset to scope a sector-wide standard that can be used to demonstrate value, support and grow investment, and incentivise social and affordable housing in Australia”.
By developing an industry reporting standard, community housing providers will be able to clearly articulate their contributions toward the UN SDGs and attract more private capital investment in urgently needed high quality, social and affordable rental provision. At the same time, finance providers and investors are increasingly mandated to direct funds into assets/sectors that offer both a sound commercial return and positive ESG outcomes for communities.
To tap these funds, 23 community housing organisations (CHOs) have come together with the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC) and other private sector partners to commission a consortium led by SGS Economics and Planning, working with RITTERWALD Consulting and Paxon Group, to develop a credible and consistent reporting standard.
