Allocations Manual

The Department of Human Services - Housing aims to provide appropriate, affordable and secure housing assistance for low-income people living in Victoria who are in housing need.

The purpose of the Allocations Policy is to ensure that public housing assistance is provided in an equitable and efficient manner and that households most in need are assisted first.

In acknowledgment that Victoria's households have varying need for access to affordable and appropriate public housing, the Department of Human Services - Housing makes provision for early housing allocations for both new applicants and current tenants in order to ensure that those most in need receive the earliest response.  The category that each household applies for will depend on their personal circumstances and their relative need for housing and support.

The Allocations Policy:

Front infomation and history
The front matter provides information of the history of the Allocation manual, version numbers, dates of any changes, definitions and responsibilities.
 Front Information and History of Manual (PDF Size 248KB, Pages 39) 
 Front Information and History of Manual (Word Size 437KB, Pages 39)

Chapter 1 - Introduction and overview
Chapter 1 sets out the purpose of the Allocations policy and gives an overview of the order of Allocation, each of the categories applicants can apply under, eligibility and the types of tenancies.
 Introduction and overview (PDF Size 131KB, Pages 14) 
Introduction and overview (Word Size 144kb, Pages 14)

Chapter 2 - Applications and eligibility
Chapter 2 contains information on submitting applications including the criteria the Department of Human Services - Housing utilises to assess eligibility.
Applications and eligibility (PDF Size 239KB, Pages 30) 
Applications and eligibility (Word Size 325KB, Pages 30)

Chapter 3 - Police witness protection program
The Department of Human Services - Housing has formal agreements with the Victorian and the Australian Federal Police to provide direct tenure public housing to new applicants who are eligible for public housing or current tenants, who are witnesses to major crimes, and are placed in immediate life threatening circumstances by continuing to live in their current housing.
Police witness protection program (PDF Size 60KB, Pages 5)
Police witness protection program (Word Size 101KB, Pages 5)

Chapter 4 - Victorian emergency management procedures
The Department of Human Services - Housing provides accommodation to those people whose housing is no longer safe or habitable, due to a major disaster, eg. Major bush fires or flooding.
Victorian emergency management procedures (PDF Size 72KB, Pages 8) 
Victorian emergency management procedures (Word Size 123KB, Pages 8)

Chapter 5 - Recurring homelessness
The recurring homelessness category targets those households who have a history of recurring homelessness, or is at risk of recurring homelessness and who are unable to obtain or maintain housing in the private rental market.
Recurring homelessness (PDF Size 185KB, Pages 22) 
Recurring homelessness (Word Size 169KB, Pages 22)

The recurring homelessness guidelines provide further information on the Department of Human Services - Housing's expectations of participating agencies, assessment procedures and frameworks, service referrals and the appeals process.
Recurring homelessness (Guidelines) (PDF Size 161KB, Pages 22)
Recurring homeless (Guidelines) (Word Size 134KB, Pages 22)

Chapter 6 - Temporary absence
The temporary absence category of early housing targets previous sole tenants of the Department of Human Services - Housing who have voluntarily relinquished their tenancy within six months of entering a nursing home, drug or alcohol rehabilitation, respite care or prison.
Temporary absence (PDF Size 113KB, Pages 11)
Temporary absence (Word Size 139KB, Pages 11)

Chapter 7 - Supported housing
The supported housing category targets both new and transfer applicants living in unsuitable housing who have a disability or long term health problem and require either significant personal support or housing with major or full disability modifications.
Supported Housing (PDF Size: 197KB, Pages 25)
Supported Housing (Word Size: 27KB, Pages 25)

Chapter 8 - Special housing needs
The special housing needs category targets new applicants whose current housing is highly unsuitable and alternative housing in the private rental market is unobtainable, or current Department of Human Services - Housing tenants, including tenants of movable units who need to transfer to more appropriate housing.

The Special Housing Needs category requires applicants to demonstrate urgent housing need against one of the four assessment criteria - insecure housing (new applicants only), inappropriate housing, unsafe housing or urgent medical need.
Special Housing needs (PDF Size 292KB, Pages 41)
Special Housing Needs (Word Size: 440KB, Pages 41)

Chapter 9 - Property management transfers
The Department of Human Services - Housing offers early housing transfers to current tenants who agree to transfer from one Department of Human Services - Housing housing property to another, in special circumstances related to property management. For example to improve stock utilisation or where the tenant's current housing due to fire, flood or vandalism.
Property Management Transfers (PDF Size:77KB, Pages 9)
Property Management Transfers (Word Size: 145KB, Pages 9)

Chapter 10 - Home finance conversion to rental housing
Home finance clients, who have purchased their own home through the Department of Human Services - Housing Home Finance Assistance Schemes, can apply to have their housing converted to Department of Human Services - Housing rental housing if changes in their circumstances result in a permanent reduction in their income and (although not behind in their repayments) they cannot continue their mortgage payments.
Home Finance Conversion to Rental Housing (HOLS) (PDF Size 100KB, Pages 11)
Home Finance Converstion to Rental Housing (HOLS) (Word Size: 210KB, Pages 11)

Chapter 11 - Mutual swaps
OOH tenants are permitted to swap properties with other tenants within Victoria provided they meet predetermined criteria. This process is called a mutual swap.
Mutual Swaps (PDF Size 100KB, Pages 9)
Mutual Swaps (Word Size 218KB, Pages 9)

Chapter 12 - Matching clients with housing
Matching applicants with housing size and location is based on the following, Department of Human Services - Housing Housing Size Guidelines, consideration of any Special Accommodation Requirements (SARs), such as, access to particular location requirements, property access needs or property construction type for medical reasons, consideration of housing requests from specific client groups, (ie. transfer applicants, sponsored housing, modified housing) and availability of housing in the applicant's preferred waiting list area/s.
Matching clients with housing (PDF Size 229KB, Pages 31)
Matching clients with housing (Word Size 309KB, Pages 28)

Chapter 13 - Managing applications
Once approved to the waiting list, a household's circumstances and housing needs can change before being housed. Changes may include contact address and telephone number, household composition, household eligibility, applicant's waiting list preferences, and the household?s relative housing need. The chapter also provides information on checks on applicant?s ongoing eligibility, removing, reviving and rejecting applications.
Managing Applications (PDF Size 113KB, Pages 13)
Managing Applications (Word Size 171KB, Pages 13)

Chapter 14 - Offers of housing
The Department of Human Services - Housing generally offers housing as soon as it becomes vacant to ensure that properties are tenanted as soon as maintenance works are completed. If the property requires extensive maintenance, it is offered to applicants once the works have commenced and an estimated completion date has been determined.
Offers of Housing (PDF Size 172KB, Pages 20)
Offers of Housing (Word Size 298KB, Pages 19)

Chapter 15 - Signing residential tenancy agreements
A Tenancy Agreement is a document that lists the rights and responsibilities of the tenant and the Director of Housing (DOH) (as landlord) in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (RTA 1997). The agreement is legally binding on both parties and contains clauses that relate directly to sections of the RTA 1997.
Signing Residential Tenancy Agreements (PDF Size 185KB, Pages 23)
Signing Residential Tenancy Agreements (Word Size 298KB, Pages 21)

Chapter 16 - Appendices
Contains documents referred to throughout the whole Allocations Manual.
Appendices (PDF Size 185KB, Pages 21)
Appendices (Word Size  306KB, Pages 20)

Index (PDF Size 47KB, Pages 7)
Index (Word Size 78KB, Pages 7)