Compass Housing Services (Compass) is one of Australia’s largest non-government social housing providers with over 35 years of experience in providing secure and affordable housing and delivering housing products for disadvantaged people who have difficulties sourcing adequate housing. Compass provides tenancy and property management for over 6500 properties in New South Wales, Queensland and New Zealand. In addition, Compass manages the tenancy of 103 Disability Group Homes in New South Wales, delivering high-quality disability respite and accommodation services. Compass is committed to much more than providing affordable housing models; they are committed to building communities, empowering people and advocating for social, economic and environmental outcomes. They use the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to assess contribution, set targets and measure outcomes. Compass Strategic and Operational plans include direct alignment to the SDGs, and an assessment is undertaken each year to ensure progress against the targets. Compass’ vision is for a world where all people have access to safe, affordable and adequate housing and are actively engaged in sustainable communities. This commitment is demonstrated in their role in advocating for social, economic and environmental sustainability. They focus on targets and outcomes based on these three pillars of sustainability in their day-to-day business across the regions they operate. Furthermore, Compass has played a strong role in advocating for sustainability and improved national and international outcomes.

Compass has a local, national and international approach to sustainability and is strongly committed to outcomes across the three sustainability pillars – social, economic and environmental. Compass has adopted the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) to align its Strategic and Operational plan with these sustainability targets and outcomes. It also strongly advocates for other organisations and all levels of government to do the same. Their vision and commitment are not restricted to areas of operation, but have also led to the development of advocacy programs at regional, national and international levels.

At an organisational level, sustainability is something every employee is responsible for, and this is reiterated in their position descriptions, KPIs and policy documents and reinforced during induction and the onboarding program. Compass’ Operations and Strategic Plans include statements on sustainability (environmental, social and economic) and are directly aligned to the SDGs and achieving targets that contribute to the goals. Compass has developed an approach to service delivery that integrates tenancy and property management within a broader network of services and maximises opportunities for tenants to increase their economic and social participation. To drive their Sustainability initiatives and ensure sustainability is embedded into the Compass culture, they have a dedicated Sustainability Manager, an SDG action group and staff sustainability champions in each office location. Compass’ commitment to sustainability is driven by senior management across all levels of business and in their local, national and international platforms.

Compass has established 2030 goals regarding social outcomes and emissions reductions and has achieved outcomes, demonstrating its continual efforts to promote sustainability. While there is a focus on organisational goals, Compass is also committed to encouraging others to do the same globally. It has key performance areas for developing tools for international use to set and achieve SDG targets and contribute to the 2030 agenda. Some of Compass’ regional initiatives include engaging the Carbon Reduction Institute to audit and provide a carbon footprint baseline, including waste, energy and travel. Compass also developed and implemented Climate Change Risk Assessment to assist in managing climate change risk and building resilience and became the first Hunter NGO to sign up for the Plastics Police soft plastic recycling program, which encourages the recycling of plastic for reuse as plastic furniture. Compass’ national initiatives include mapping Compass’ Strategic Plan to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and New Urban Agenda and developing a People, Place, Planet, partnership, Performance approach to the delivery of services for tenants and the broader community (a model available to national organisations).

Furthermore, Compass’ international advocacy includes conducting Deep Place studies, including Humanitarian activity in Vanuatu and aid work and fundraising for international projects in Vanuatu that provide a place for community activity and a safe shelter for significant weather events and recovery. Compass staff representatives participate in multiple national and international sustainability networks and committees. Compass is also an Associate Partner of the UN World Urban Campaign and participates in and delivers World Urban Forum events and activities. In 2019, Compass was awarded Gold status, and its Sustainability Manager was awarded the honour of the state’s Sustainability Champion of the Year, demonstrating their commitment to regional outcomes and advocacy.

Helping Compass tenants to save money on their power is extremely valuable given their low socioeconomic status; however, the benefits are more than economic. Compass is working with multiple partners, including Community Housing Industry Association, to develop reports and guidelines to deliver similar social, economic and environmental programs to benefit tenants and their communities across Australia. Compass has a proven reputation for advocacy work to promote sustainability at all levels of government and, indeed, in the international space. Compass’ work with the UN helped to facilitate Australia’s SDG NUA conferences which in turn has led to partnerships with Australian organisations and greater standing in the sector, including by Government and their international peers. Compass has direct sponsorship of the Pacific Urban Forum, and participation in two World Urban Forums has contributed to the international debate on sustainability. Compass has provided Technical Assistance in Vietnam to promote sustainable social housing solutions to the growing housing needs of a rapidly urbanising population.

For information about Compass Housing Services, visit compasshousing.org