HOUSING SUPPORT
Accessing crisis accommodation and housing support can be complicated, time consuming and unnecessarily difficult for people in already vulnerable circumstances.
The Specialist Homelessness Service’s primary objective is to ensure people are supported to achieve and sustain safe and stable housing in the community through support and advocacy.
What that looks like
We provide holistic, client focused support with a range of assistance including:
- Facilitating housing applications;
- Private rental search and approaching real estate agencies to build and maintain good relationships with property managers to give our clients a better chance of securing a rental through positive advocacy
- Writing support letters for clients to access
- priority housing
- or Housing private rental subsidy programs such as Rent Choice (Start Safely – for clients escaping family and domestic violence; Youth –for clients aged 16-24 years of age who secure a private rental and agree to undertake training to build their skills, working with a support worker to achieve their goals; Veterans – for former members of the permanent Australian Defence Force). These programs can be accessed for up to 3 years with support tapering off over that period. There is also a private rental subsidy medical/disability program
- or rental arrears support
- Housing bond loans for private rental properties
- Helping young people complete Rent it Keep It, a program that provides participants with the opportunity to learn about the practicalities of renting in the private rental market and to learn about their responsibilities and rights as a tenant
- Sponsoring Work Development Orders – these provide support for people with a state debt they cannot manage, enabling them to pay off fines by undergoing either drug and alcohol or financial counselling, educational, vocational or life skills courses, undertake unpaid or volunteer work or a mentoring program if they are under 25 years of age
- Referrals to Link2Home to organise emergency/temporary accommodation, or short-term crisis accommodation such as the youth or women’s refuge
- Responsive outreach throughout the Eurobodalla to meet with clients with housing needs
- Advocacy to housing (DCJ) on behalf of clients, and also around affordable housing issues as they emerge within the community.
drop into the office for assistance if they are, or know anyone who is homeless or who may be at risk of experiencing homelessness
contact us
be referred by another agency or service use the service provider referral pathway Request for service
How it works
After initial assessment is undertaken, we work collaboratively with clients to develop a case management plan that best meets their specific needs, hopes and dreams, and that connects them with the appropriate supports to achieve their goals.
Some of the services we provide are:
- Assisting families who have concerns about the security of their accommodation
- Providing advice on housing options
- Supporting families to access and lodge applications for crisis, medium or long-term housing
- Support to maintain current accommodation
- Supporting access to services and breaking down the barriers which prevent families from eligibility as tenants in private rentals
- Supporting families to gain access to priority housing lists
- Providing back door advocacy through approaching private rentals and accessing potential subsidies
Get help
Contact us to book an appointment. Our team will assess your eligibility, connect you with relevant housing services and help you apply. After this we’ll walk with you through the process and do everything we can to speed things along. Reach out to our team via phone or email for a free, confidential chat about the situation
Resources
Below is a list of resources to access housing support. We know it can be confusing! Please contact us to help you navigate the system.
Link2Home
Link2Home is a NSW government homelessness information and referral hotline that can provide information, conduct assessments and make referrals to homelessness services across NSW. It is available 24/7 and you can contact them on 1800 152 152.
Rent Choice Youth
Rent Choice Youth is a NSW government program that assists young people aged 16-24 who need to find a place to live or help with maintaining a current rental. The program helps with lease approval, paying rent for up to 3 years and support with study or job goals. To access Rent Choice Youth you have to be managed by a support agency. Luckily we are one! Other agencies in our area that can connect you with this program are: Campbell Page, Eurobodalla and Hope House, Batemans Bay.
Rent Choice Start Safely
Rent Choice Start Safely is a NSW government program that assists people who do not have a stable and secure place to live due to domestic or family violence. The program helps people find rentals, pays a proportion of rent up to 3 years and can assist with education and employment options. To apply you have to call the Housing Contact Centre on 1800 422 322 or our local DCJ office on 1800 246 862.
Waiting Times Information
Waiting times for social housing are at an all time high. Unfortunately, for our region that means that general applicants can be waiting 2-5 years. There is an option for families with complex housing needs to go on a priority list after they have shown they have tried to find private rental accommodation. If eligible, we can help you get on this list to be pushed up the queue. You can check on waiting times for your ‘allocation zone’ using the link below.
Rent Subsidy Information
The NSW Government can provide a subsidy on private rental accomodation which means they will contribute a certain amount to your rent, making it similar to what tenants pay in social housing. When you apply for housing assistance you will be assessed to see if you’re eligible for a Private Rental Subsidy and could receive payments once a rental property has been approved. It is considered medium term accomodation until a social housing offer is made. To be eligible you have to have fulfilled the requirements for social housing and also be on the priority housing list. For more information, call us or check out the link below.
Department of Communities and Justice
The NSW Government brought together the departments of FACS and Justice. The DCJ is the lead agency in the new Stronger Communities Cluster. The new department will enable services to better work together to support everyone’s right to access justice and other help for families, and strengthen/bolster the promotion of early intervention and inclusion, with benefits for the whole community.
Housing Contact Centre
Find out how Housing can help you find or keep your housing, how to apply for private rental assistance or social housing or call the Housing Contact Centre 1800 422 322 TTY Phone 133 677.
Apply for Housing Assistance
Apply online for housing assistance. The online form is the quickest and simplest way to apply for housing assistance. Call the Housing Contact Centre on 1800 422 322.
Rentstart Bond Loan
If you’re wanting to get into the private rental market, but finding it financially difficult to get started, you may be eligible to apply for a Rentstart Bond Loan. The loan, which can be up to 100% of your rental bond, is interest free .
WDO Information
You may be unable to pay a fine due to mental illness, intellectual disability or cognitive impairment, addiction to drugs, alcohol or other substances, homelessness or extreme financial hardship. In these cases you may be eligible for a Work and Development Order.
Changes to ✓Impact Eurobodalla
In April, 2021, The Family Place acquired Impact Eurobodalla’s Homelessness Support Service. Our team would like to acknowledge the incredible work undertaken by Impact and is excited to continue serving the housing needs of our community.
“Our team here are very motivated to continue on with the wonderful and innovative work that has been done by the Impact team and the Board over the past years. Francesca and I will be working closely over the coming weeks to ensure a seamless transition.”
Malindey Sorrell, CEO, The Family Place