HomeStart Finance

1389 The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light) (24 September 2019). The government will review the size of the Affordable Housing Fund if demand for the HomeStart Finance interest free deposit gap loan scheme exceeds expectations. What criteria or objectives will be used to review the scheme, other than demand?

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL (Schubert—Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government, Minister for Planning): I have been advised by HomeStart Finance:

The primary criterion to evaluate the success of the scheme is the number of housing outcomes, which would mean more South Australian households will have achieved their dream of owning their own home.

The review may also consider:

whether the scheme has successfully helped households who need assistance

the rate of take up from program applicants to settled loans,

qualitative feedback from the market about the program's effectiveness,

rates of customer arrears or defaults, and

the overall cost effectiveness of the scheme.