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Victorian Government Website (Victoria, the Place to Be)
Department of Human Services, Victoria, Australia
Office of Housing

Standards and Guidelines

Creating Connections Education and Employment Pathways Guidelines

The Creating Connections Education and Employment Pathways (CEEP) guidelines provide homelessness assistance services a guide to accessing brokerage to support and sustain pathways into Education Employment and Training for 15 - 25 year olds experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The Adobe PDF Icon Creating Connections Education and Employment Pathways (CEEP) guidelines (PDF Size 246KB, Pages 33) are effective from January 2008 to June 2009.

Homelessness Assistance Service Standards

The Homelessness Assistance Service Standards (HASS) were developed through extensive consultations with service providers, consumers and sector experts. In 2005 a formal trial of the standards was conducted with four organisations. As an outcome of that trial, the standards were revised to incorporate feedback from trial sites and to better reflect current Office of Housing directions and initiatives.

Five sections of HASS relating to client service delivery standards have been retained and the sections covering organisational management standards were deleted. 

Microsoft Word Icon Section 1: Upholding and promoting rights (Word Size 116KB, Pages 12)

Microsoft Word Icon Section 2: Access to support for people experiencing homelessness (Word Size 117KB, Pages 13)

Microsoft Word Icon Section 3: Direct service delivery and case management (Word Size 160KB, Pages 19)

Microsoft Word Icon Section 4: Direct service delivery to specific groups (Word Size 216KB, Pages 31)

Microsoft Word Icon Section 5: Working with the community (Word Size 60KB, Pages 6)

The HASS form an integral component of the accreditation model.

Homelessness Assistance Programs Guidelines 2006 - 2009

Since the introduction of the Victorian Homelessness Strategy (VHS) in 2000, significant work has been done at local, regional and statewide levels to improve assistance to people who are homeless.

Guidelines documents are designed to assist funded agencies to deliver services and manage business in accordance with program objectives and funding conditions.

Previously, homelessness assistance services have been required to work with three sets of program guidelines. These have been integrated into one set of program guidelines to be used by all homelessness assistance program funded services. It is designed to:

  • further streamline homelessness program management and operational practice
  • eliminate duplication in former Housing Establishment Fund,  Supported Accommodation Assistance Program and Transitional Housing Management guidelines
  • introduce new tools and frameworks as homelessness program operational requirements
  • establish common definitions across homelessness program functions
  • introduce a user friendly format that is easily updated and distributed
It is recommended that these guidelines be used in conjunction with the Homelessness Assistance Service Standards (HASS). These will assist homelessness assistance services with self-assessment and quality improvement planning, and for those services providing housing assistance, preparation for registration as housing providers.

All registered community housing agencies are required to comply with Registered Agency Performance Standards (RAPS) in their ongoing operations in order to achieve and to retain registration. RAPS were published in the Victorian Government Gazette on August 2005.

Adobe PDF Icon Homelessness Assistance Program Guidelines (PDF Size 661KB, Pages 111)

National Community Housing Standards (NCHS)

The National Community Housing Standards (NCHS) were first published in 1998 and a revised version published in 2003. These standards guide the operations of community housing providers. The manual outlines the principles of community housing and is a useful source of information for managers, staff, board members, tenants and Department of Human Services personnel regarding ideas for continuously improving service delivery.

The NCHS Manual sets out standards of good practice in service delivery for the community-housing sector throughout Australia.

Public Housing Infrastructure Program

The Public Housing Infrastructure Program (PHIP) guidelines provide information for community service organisations about the operation of Social Housing Advocacy Support Program (SHASP) services and other PHIP-funded activities.

Microsoft Word Icon Public Housing Infrastructure Program (PHIP) guidelines (Word Size 328KB, Pages 24)

The program guidelines detail the program framework, funded activities and funding guidelines, while the appendices detail:

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