Housing and homelessness

Our promise

Growing the supply of social and affordable housing and supporting the prevention of homelessness

Our growing housing practice is focused on supporting our clients to grow the supply of social and affordable housing for people who need it most. Our housing practice brings together the work we do in the superannuation industry, public and social change sectors, and the care and support economy.

We have a unique cross-industry, multi-stakeholder view that we apply to our work in social and affordable housing.

Our impact

Housing Matters Report 2025

Pathways to growth in Australia’s community housing sector

Following the success of Right Lane Consulting’s inaugural Housing Matters  Report 2024, we’re excited to publish our second edition. Our new Report continues our thought leadership and contributes new insights on how to unlock the supply of social and affordable housing.

Growth of Australia’s community housing sector is imperative to address Australia’s escalating housing crisis. We consider Community Housing Providers (CHPs) to be best placed to provide more secure and affordable housing for lower-income Australians. Growth must be intentional to ensure the community housing sector scales in a way that continues to support resident safety and wellbeing, cohesive communities, and the financial sustainability of CHPs.

To support growth of the community housing sector, Right Lane Consulting delivers the Housing Matters Report 2025 – Pathways to growth in Australia’s community housing sector and a companion guide Your guide to growth – A practical guide for community housing providers to grow and scale.

Our special thanks to the 11 CHPs and peer reviewers who generously contributed to this report and provided valuable insights.

View Reports

Our impact

Housing Matters Report 2024

Unlocking the supply of social and affordable housing at scale

In 2024, Right Lane Consulting published its first Housing Matters Report, contributing thought leadership and practical insights to the national discussion on Australia’s housing crisis.

Unlocking social and affordable housing at scale
Australia’s housing crisis is escalating as housing supply continues to fall short of demand. Addressing this challenge requires new approaches to increase and diversify the supply of social and affordable housing for low‑ and moderate‑income Australians.

This Report examines the systemic barriers constraining housing supply and outlines the policy, planning and funding settings required to unlock housing delivery at scale. It focuses on the critical role of government in creating the conditions for Community Housing Providers, institutional investors and other sector participants to deliver more homes.

The Report recommends six priority actions for government, including establishing a national housing framework, providing funding certainty, expediting planning and unlocking access to land, to support a more effective and coordinated housing system.

View Report

We are pre-approved state and federal government suppliers

Right Lane is a pre-approved provider of Community Housing Futures Program (CHFP)

The Community Housing Futures Program (CHFP) was established by the Queensland Government to enhance the capability and capacity of Community Housing Providers (CHPs) and Indigenous Community Housing Organisations (ICHOs) to increase social and affordable housing supply in Queensland. The Program supports CHPs and ICHOs to access growth-related training, education and tools, and facilitates grants for specialist business advisory services.

Right Lane is a professional service provider on the Approved Professional Advisory Panel as part of the Business Advisory Program.

Right Lane is also pre-approved state and federal government suppliers.

Click here for more information

Case studies

We invest time, knowledge and experience within the housing and homelessness sectors

Strategic support to advance Homelessness Australia’s mission

Amid Australia’s escalating homelessness crisis, Right Lane supported Homelessness Australia (HA) in February 2025 by facilitating a Board Planning Day.

Working with CEO Kate Colvin and HA’s Board, the session focused on strategic reflection, future planning, and HA’s evolving role as a national advocate. Key discussions included reviewing progress, setting future goals, and exploring initiatives like a Homelessness Impact Hub.

This support helped HA strengthen its strategic clarity and unity to continue driving systemic change under challenging conditions.

Partnering for strategic clarity

In 2024, Right Lane partnered with Many Rivers Regional Housing to support strategic alignment under new CEO Daniel Becker.

Through our pro bono and low bono program, we facilitated a culturally safe board retreat that fostered inclusive dialogue and reflection. The retreat enabled the board and leadership team to articulate shared values, strategic choices, and a unified vision.

The result was a cohesive five-year strategic direction that reflects the collective aspirations of Many Rivers’ leaders and reinforces its commitment to Aboriginal housing outcomes.

Aligning strategy for growth and impact

Link Wentworth is one of Australia’s leading community housing providers, committed to improving lives through safe, stable housing and support services.

Right Lane partnered with Link Wentworth to guide the development of a long-term strategic vision and a clear roadmap for growth, sustainability, and impact.

Through a series of strategic workshops — including the North Star series — we worked closely with the Board and executive team to define Link Wentworth’s 10-year vision and shape their 3-year strategy.

Testimonials

What our clients say

Thanks to Right Lane for generous low bono support for a fabulous Board Planning day. This was a stellar session that has set the course for the next exciting period of peak body action. With Gemma Pinnell’s excellent support planning the session, understanding of the sector challenges, and great facilitation on the day, we have nailed a strategic direction that will service us well in our mission to support best practice and end homelessness.

Homelessness Australia

CEO

It was wonderful to come together as a group, to really see that we’re values aligned, on the same page, and we know why we’re here and what we are going to do. It’s an exciting time to be at Many Rivers.

Many Rivers Regional Housing

CEO

Ben and Les easily gained the trust of the board and myself. The insights they garnered from the interviews were invaluable. The Board and staff remarked on how they were so knowledgeable about our sector and could respond quickly to suggestions from the group.

Homelessness NSW

CEO

It was a very positive experience working with Right Lane, who clearly listened to and understood the brief. Always very responsive and could give clear explanations around methodology and scope.

Rural Workforce Agency Victoria

General Manager

Right Lane supported our organisation to articulate our core purpose and align on our key priorities for the future by offering a steady hand, meaningful opportunities to work together across decision-making roles and using a relatable, current and helpful resource pack developed with us to help build our collective understanding. Great visualisations and step-by-step approach built trust and momentum.

Tenants Victoria

Director

Right Lane supported our board through a complex strategic decision with clarity, rigour and professionalism. The process was collaborative and evidence-based, and the final report was of a very high standard – clear, balanced and supported by sound analysis. The recommendations gave the Board confidence that all relevant risks, opportunities and obligations had been properly explored. Our Board was very pleased with both the process and the outcome, and we would highly recommend Right Lane for strategic governance and sector-specific advice.

MacKillop Family Services

Group Director

This was the second time that Right Lane has partnered pro bono with SWAN to organise a roundtable community forum on housing and homelessness on the Mornington Peninsula and we could not be more grateful for the support and more satisfied with the outcome.

Southern Women’s Action Network

SWAN Facilitator

Our experts

The people supporting our housing clients

Meet our team

Gemma Pinnell

Partner

Gemma is a partner at Right Lane Consulting. She has worked in senior positions in superannuation and the labour movement for over two decades. Her areas of expertise are Affordable Housing and Superannuation. Gemma has delivered projects across strategy, policy and program evaluation, new service design and implementation, data and analytics, and transformation. She is focused on partnering with clients to tackle challenging problems and deliver solutions that can be executed to achieve impact.

Experience

Her recent experience has included:

Working alongside an executive director of Australia’s biggest public transport project – to bring their team together, to connect, and align on the key priorities for the team for the next 12-18 months. This included agreeing measures of success and ways of working to deliver their program of work effectively.
Working with the CEO and board of a community affordable housing organisation in Sydney’s west to agree their overall strategic direction and aspiration and consider key strategic questions to set them up for future success and to assess their investment pipeline and growth strategy.
Working with the head of External Affairs of a peak body in the energy industry, Gemma worked collaboratively with the team to develop a set of ‘mega themes’ to better define their work priorities and align their work to the broader organisational goals.

Prior to joining Right Lane Consulting, Gemma was director of Strategic Engagement at Industry Super Australia where she was responsible for strengthening relationships between ISA and key stakeholders. Gemma has built her successful career as a skilled leader bringing complex stakeholders together, solving complex problems and leading and driving outcomes.

Gemma was also previously a trustee director of AustralianSuper, a director of Industry Fund Services and a member of the senior team at the ACTU. She worked in senior roles in the trade union movement for twenty years, including leading organisational reviews for the ACTU. She is a skilled facilitator and enjoys working with boards and teams across a variety of sectors, with her passion being in housing, gender and sustainability.

Qualifications

Gemma is a director of the progressive think tank Per Capita and holds a Master’s degree in Communication from RMIT, an Honours degree in Women’s Studies and Politics from Monash University and is a graduate of the AICD Company Directors course.

Publications

Housing Matters 2025: Growth and scale in Australia’s community housing sector

Housing Matters Report 2024: Unlocking the supply of social and affordable housing at scale

Cassandra Pace

Engagement Manager

Cassandra is an engagement manager at Right Lane and has more than 20 years of professional experience in the public and not-for-profit sectors. Cassandra is an experienced strategy consultant and brings a strategic and delivery-focused approach to tackling complex business problems. She bridges the gap between ambition and practical implementation through the ability to see both the big picture and the detail – driving action and delivering outcomes that create value for organisations, industries and communities. Cassandra is passionate about solving Australia’s housing crisis and helping more people access safe and affordable housing. She has helped build the firm’s housing and homelessness practice and predominantly serves clients in the housing sector.

Experience

Her recent experience has included:

Delivered more than 20 strategy days with boards and executive teams to align on their strategic direction for the next 3-5 years.
Developed Right Lane Consulting’s Housing Matters Reports in 2024 and 2025, including a practical guide to CHP growth.
Designed and delivered stakeholder engagement to consult members on the current and future state of peak bodies in the community housing sector, informing the establishment of Australian Community Housing.
Supported a faith-based service provider to clarify its ambition in housing provision and determine the best governance option to deliver this ambition.
Supported a local council to clarify its offer to CHPs to support the development of social housing in their local government area.
Co-designed with an alliance of local councils and social service providers a governance framework for how they will work together to increase social housing in south east Melbourne.
Designed and delivered sector consultation to inform how a federal government agency can build fundraising capability in the cultural and creative industries.
Determined the new executive team, organisational structure and service model of a merged social services provider.
Designed a service excellence hub for a national mental health service provider.
Designed an early intervention program for young men at risk of violence for a social services provider.
Drafted an evidence and impact strategy for a national primary prevention agency.

Prior to joining Right Lane, Cassandra’s most recent role was as the Principal Adviser, Policy and Advocacy at the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Before that, Cassandra was a public servant for 15 years and worked for the Commonwealth Government, Victorian Government and local councils in England.

Cassandra has also completed The Observership Program and served as a Director on the boards of Music Victoria, CoHousing Australia and Farmer Incubator.

Qualifications

Cassandra has a Master of Business Administration at Monash University and received a Dean’s Commendation. She also holds a Bachelor of Business (First Class Honours) from the Queensland University of Technology.

Benjamin Johnston

Senior Associate

Ben has 5 years of experience consulting working with Australia’s largest organisations across the public, financial services and not-for-profit sectors at Right Lane and Ernst & Young. Ben has a diverse background covering strategy, operations and human-centred design, and is passionate about finding unique formulas to solving complex problems. Ben has supported senior leaders in delivering large transformation projects designed to improve efficiencies while delivering a better experience for end-customers. He has helped design and implement various capability improvement solutions including organisational design, operating model design, process improvement, experience design and online learning tools.

Experience

Ben’s recent experience has included:

Supporting a not-for-profit community housing provider to articulate their value proposition and search and evaluate potential partners to execute their ambitious growth agenda.
Helping a not-for-profit community housing provider prepare for their board strategy day by analysing their external and internal environment. This involved interviews with the board and developing archetypes and journey maps for high-needs customer cohorts.
Leading a workstream developing archetypes and journey maps to help a public sector client understand the needs of its key customer cohorts and identify gaps in required capabilities. This included direct customer engagement through a survey and focus groups, followed by analytics of key outputs.
Supporting a not-for-profit community housing provider prepare a tender for the HAFF CTAP funding round.
Designing and facilitating workshops with C-Suite stakeholders to identify desired future-state capabilities for the client’s HR function. Conducting resource modelling to identify resource requirements.
Designing an evaluation framework to score development programs targeting disadvantaged communities. Used the framework to score and prioritise the programs and created a cost model and business case to package the resulting savings.

Prior to joining Right Lane Consulting, Ben was a Senior Consultant in the Business Transformation team at Ernst & Young. Ben has also worked for start-ups disrupting the healthcare and financial services sectors in Australia and the US.

Qualifications

Ben holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Sydney, achieving a double major in Finance and Economics. He has also studied Design Thinking at New York University and Development Economics at the London School of Economics.

Ready to see how we can help you create even more impact?

We work alongside clients who do great work within the sectors they operate, and we are excited to be involved in creating outcomes that truly make a difference.

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