Housing assistance for domestic and family violence
We are committed to reducing domestic violence and its effects by improving your access to safe, affordable and appropriate accommodation and housing services.
If you or a member of your household are experiencing domestic and family violence, you may be eligible for:
- emergency accommodation
- priority housing assistance
- private rental support
Crisis accommodation
Refuges provide crisis accommodation and support to people who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness including women, men, young people, families.
You can search for a service that you or someone you know may need by location or by the type of support needed depending on your situation.
If you would like to be referred to a support service, or a Specialist Homelessness Service please contact Link2Home on 1800 152 152. Link2Home operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Priority housing assistance
If you are experiencing domestic and family violence, you may be eligible for priority housing assistance. This means that you could be offered social housing ahead of other people.
Priority housing assistance is for eligible clients with an urgent need for medium-to-long term social housing. This can be a more suitable option over the private rental market.
The Housing Pathways page or your local housing office can provide more information about the types of help available and how to access them.
Private rental support
Private rental assistance can include:
- Rent Choice Start Safely
- help with finding a private rental property
- a Bond Extra that can support your application for a private rental property.
Rent Choice Start Safely provides financial help for a limited time if you have experienced or are currently experiencing domestic and family violence. The Start Safely subsidy helps people secure private rental accommodation so they don’t have to return to the violent situation.
You may apply for private rental assistance by filling out the online application for housing assistance.
Already living in public housing
If you currently live in public housing and experience domestic and family violence, you can contact the Housing Response Centre on 1800 422 322 to immediately end your tenancy.
You can also apply for a transfer to another property, temporary accommodation or for assistance in taking over the tenancy if your name is not already on the lease.
Staying Home Leaving Violence program
We are partners in Staying Home Leaving Violence which supports women and children to remain safely in their own home or a home of their choice after ending a violent relationship. The program offers a range of services to improve safety and housing stability including improving home security, providing support for children, helping women throughout the legal process, and referrals to other services e.g. health, employment and counselling services.