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last updated 12 November 2007 TU Projects The Tenant’s Union undertakes projects on current issues. These projects identify and investigate important systemic issues that affect housing in the ACT. Current projects v Occupancy Project Are you in student accommodation? Live in a caravan or mobile home park? Boarding or lodging in someone's house or a boarding house? Living in short term accommodation, supported or emergency?  This project is for you. Our Occupancy Project was launched on Monday 5 February2007.  For details of our awareness campaign, and occupancy information click here. v Share Housing Booklet Wild and wonderful, share houses can prove to be volatile little arrangements, and  it’s not hugely uncommon for things to deteriorate in a rather unfortunate manner. Unfortunately problems can become quite complex and often involve the breakdown of personal relationships, and the way the law deals with this is not straightforward or simple. As a response to the large number of share house related enquiries directed towards the Tenants’ Advice Service, the TU developed a guide to share housing for tenants in the ACT.  Available only in electronic form at this stage, "Crowded House - A legal guide to share housing in the ACT" is aimed at addressing some of the issues that arise in this rather complicated area of law.  We hope to access funds to be able to print the booklet and distribute it widely throughout the ACT. To download a copy, click here. Past Projects v Raising Our Voice - a tenant participation project At its simplest level, tenant participation is the way that tenants can have a say in housing management services.   There is a variety of participation methods and levels, and an extensive range of research as well as practice that has developed over time as different tenures, providers and tenant communities have sought to find the models that best work for them. Housing ACT recognised the role that effective participation can play in promoting sustainable tenancies and made a commitment to ascertain the most appropriate forms of tenant participation for its tenants, and to resource such models.  It was determined that ACT Shelter and Tenants’ Union ACT were well placed to develop and undertake a project to explore the range of options suitable for Housing ACT and its tenants, and to make recommendations regarding how best to meet the needs of both groups. Click here for a copy of the final report on the project v There's No Place like Home - Domestic Violence and Tenancy On first glance, maybe not two issues that would not seem related, however when considering tenancy is about where people live and rights they have to that home it is obvious that there can be some serious links between issues.  This project was based on a project by two NSW community legal centres.  It is a joint project of the TU, Welfare Rights and Legal Centre and the Women's Legal Centre.  The resulting day long workshop for community workers is held at least annually during Tenancy Week. Participants are provided with a manual covering the days topics and additional detail. The aims of the program are: To give an overview of domestic violence law in the ACT To give an overview of tenancy and occupancy law in the ACT and how it can be applied when  assisting tenants and occupants in domestic violence situations To provide a framework for the application of the above in order that workers can assist their clients with basic accommodation/domestic violence issues and recognise when referral is required To help workers better inform their clients about where to get help when they are experiencing more complex domestic violence and tenancy and/or occupancy problems Manuals include information on chances to legislation and are updated each year.  For information about the next workshop check our events information or contact the TU office.