Special housing needs

If you're living in unsuitable housing, you could get priority housing assistance under the Special Housing category. 

Eligibility

Usually, to be eligible for special housing, you must:

• be living in unsuitable housing
• have looked for alternative housing, for example in the private rental market
• not exceed the current special housing needs income and asset limits
• not own or part own a house, unit or flat
• live in Victoria
• be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
• begin repaying any money that you still owe us from a previous public housing tenancy or bond loan
• have an existing application for public housing 

Insecure housing

Your housing may be unsuitable if it is insecure.  This usually means it is temporary.  You may have been asked to leave the temporary accommodation, or you may be staying with family or friends or in crisis accommodation, or other short term housing. 

Inappropriate housing

Your housing is inappropriate if:

• you and your children don't have access to your own bathroom or cooking facilities or
• you can't live with your children because of where your house is or the size of your house or
• your house is overcrowded and you need at least another two bedrooms or
• bedrooms are shared by people of the opposite sex, where at least one person is over six years old or
• where parents are sharing with children

Unsafe housing

Your housing is unsafe if you are in danger because of physical or family violence.

Urgent medical needs

You have urgent medical needs if:

• you have a serious medical condition which is being made worse because of where you live or
• Your full-time carer can't live with you because your house is not big enough 

Looking for alternative housing

If a housing worker has been helping you look for housing, they need to document the assistance they've given you.  They also need to demonstrate that they've been unable to help you find alternative housing, including private rental. 

If a housing worker doesn't assist you, you need to briefly explain your housing history and why the private rental market is not a viable option for you. 

If you believe that you're not able to look for alternative housing due to special circumstances, please contact your local housing office to talk about it with us. 

Repayment of debt

Before you can get priority housing, you must start to repay any money that you still owe us from a previous public housing tenancy or bond loan.  

If you can't pay it back straight away, you need to make a repayment agreement with your local Housing Office and keep this agreement for at least three months before we can offer you a property. You will also be asked to pay a lump sum if you owe more than $200. 

Application process

You will need to be on the public housing waiting list before you can apply for this priority assistance.  If you haven't done so already, fill in the General Housing Application form and lodge it with your local housing office.

If you're already on the public housing waiting list, and you think you are eligible for supported housing, fill in the Special Housing Needs Application form (PDF Size 258KB, Pages 15). 

If you have a medical condition that can only be treated at a specific hospital or by a specific doctor, you can ask for housing in an area that allows you to get to these services. 

You may also need to live in a particular type of housing. For example, if you use a wheelchair you can request a property without steps. 

If there are special reasons why you need to live in a particular area or a particular type of property, ask your doctor to explain these reasons by completing an Application for Special Accommodation Requirements form (PDF Size 104KB, Pages 8). 

Once your application for special needs housing is approved, you'll go on the priority waiting list.  How long you'll wait will depend on the areas you want to live in, your special needs, the number of suitable properties in your chosen waiting list area and the rate at which these properties become vacant. 

For help or more information about supported housing, contact your local housing office.