The Housing Establishment Fund (HEF) is available to both Transitional Housing Management and Homelessness Support program agencies to assist eligible clients to access overnight accommodation or private rental accommodation.
The HEF is also used for other assistance relating to relocation and establishing housing.
HEF is jointly funded by the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments under the National Affordable Housing Agreement (NAHA).
Transitional Housing Management program
The Transitional Housing Management (THM) program provides accommodation for up to 12 months (18 months for young people) to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Funded by the National Affordable Housing Agreement, the program provides through the Housing Establishment Fund:
- Property and tenancy management
- Initial assessment and planning
- Housing information
- Referral to other homelessness and allied services
- Housing advocacy
- Financial assistance.
There are 19 THM program funded organisations based in homelessness service system entry points, with homelessness support services located throughout the state.
Homelessness Support program
Organisations in Victoria who are funded by the Homelessness Support program are linked with the Transitional Housing Management program in delivering homelessness support and housing services through approximately 85 entry points across the state.
The program is jointly funded by the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments under the National Affordable Housing Agreement.
Formerly known as the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP), the Homelessness Support program was established in 1985 to consolidate a number of Commonwealth and State/Territory government programs assisting homeless people, and women and children escaping family violence.
The program aims to assist people who are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless to achieve the maximum possible degree of self-reliance and independence by providing crisis and transitional support and a range of related support services.
Managed by the State and Territory governments, approximately 1,300 not-for-profit organisations are funded under the program.
The National Data Collection Agency has been reporting on homelessness support since 1996 and much of the information collected is available from National Data Collection Agency reports.
Crisis supported accommodation
Crisis supported accommodation provides immediate support to people who are homeless and in crisis, including women and children escaping family violence.
Accommodation includes:
- Womens refuges
- Youth refuges
- Major inner city crisis supported accommodation services.
Accommodation is provided from 1 night to 6 weeks and is funded under the Homelessness Support program and the National Affordable Housing Agreement.
How to apply
You can apply for HEF through a community organisation. There's a list of service providers on our DFFH Services website or search for HEF providers near you using the Infoxchange Service Seeker website.