Multi-stakeholder Partnerships in Affordable Rental Housing: an Investigation using Soft System Framework

Susilawati C¹*, Skitmore M¹ and Armitage L²

1. Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
2. University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Queensland Department of Housing has proposed partnerships as one possible option to deliver affordable housing. Although this initiative is supported by other stakeholders, many constraints have impeded its implementation for real projects. It might be applicable for mixed housing projects with some relaxation on tax and/ or planning requirements. In general, affordable housing has not been seen as a valuable investment. Moreover, the partnerships require stakeholders to work across boundaries and outside their comfort zones.

This initial study examines the use of Soft System Framework to explore stakeholders’ views of multi-stakeholder partnerships in affordable rental housing. A series of in-depth interviews with major stakeholders representing housing providers, regulators and users in Queensland has been conducted.

Soft System methodology has been used to express the unstructured problem by using systematic thinking to develop a conceptual model to solve the problem. A complex problem is broken down into role analysis, social and political system analysis. This study provides an example of using systematic thinking in solving conflicting problems. The gap between conceptual model and implementation in the real world situation was also investigated. Major changes in the socio-cultural aspects of our community as well as between stakeholders were required to implement further developing multi-stakeholder partnerships for affordable rental housing.

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