Housing and homelessness policies and procedures

• Aboriginal Corrections Housing Pathways Initiative guidelines

• Aboriginal Private Rental Assistance Program guidelines

For more information on the program and provider contacts, visit the APRAP information sheet.

• Crisis Supported Accommodation - Therapeutic Model guidelines

• Enhanced Housing Pathways program guidelines

• Homelessness Supportive Housing guidelines

• Homes First Program guidelines

For information and resources for organisations funded to provide housing and homelessness services, visit Housing on Providers.

• Housing Establishment Fund guidelines

• Initial Assessment and Planning in Victorian Prisons - Corrections Housing Pathways Initiative guidelines

• Open Doors Service coordination guide
• Open Doors Practice guide 
• Open Doors Framework 

Private rental assistance is a preventative intervention that provides holistic support to households vulnerable or at risk of becoming homeless. It is available in a flexible manner, delivering support and practical assistance that is tailored to the needs of each household.

The Private Rental Assistance Program (PRAP) guidelines set out the department's expectations and minimum program requirements for agencies delivering private rental assistance.

For further information, contact your local area private rental assistance program provider.

The Director of Housing’s RentAssist bond loan program aims to assist low income earners to access accommodation in the private rental market, and through housing associations, assist them in meeting the upfront costs associated with a new tenancy. The program is administered by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing which assess all applicants’ eligibility for a bond against the bond loan eligibility criteria.

From 9 February 2019, bond loan applications can be lodged online.

Who is eligible?

To be approved for a bond loan, applicants will need to meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Applicants are a permanent Australian resident.
• The share of rent is less than 55 per cent of an applicant’s gross weekly income.
• Applicants do not own or part-own a house, flat or unit.
• Applicants meet the bond loan income and asset eligibility limits.

To find out more, visit the department's bond loan eligibility page.

How do I access the bond online application?

The bond online application is accessed through the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing eBusiness Portal. If you already have an eBusiness login for My Agency, or another application, you can simply add RentAssist bond loan application to your existing account.

Staff who need to complete applications will require an eBusiness account and EPRIN (a unique number which identifies the organisation). The organisation must have an eBusiness account before staff can register for their own accounts. The steps for registering and accessing the application are outlined in the RentAssist bond loan eBusiness registration guide.

Further information

For policy questions about bond loan eligibility and operational guidelines, phone 1800 290 574.

Funded organisations requiring assistance with using the online application, phone 1800 630 738.

The Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation is a statutory authority created by the Victorian Parliament to address the challenge of gambling harm in the Victorian community.

Organisations funded by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing to deliver homelessness services, need to ensure they are aware of and able to consistently refer people to relevant gambling support services.

Please see attached Addendum to the Homelessness Services Guidelines and Conditions of Funding 2014 – Responsible gambling.

For further information, please visit Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation. 

Victoria’s Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Plan Guidelines (guidelines) have been developed to outline the objectives and requirements of the two program areas: assertive outreach and supportive housing teams. The guidelines will ensure quality and consistency in the delivery and practice response across the state.  

The guidelines contain the program objectives and outcomes, service components, program governance and progress reporting.

• Victoria’s Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Plan - Assertive Outreach program guidelines
• Victoria's Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Plan - Supportive Housing Teams program guidelines

The Considerations for use of Supported Residential Services - Advice to funded organisations provides guidance to funded or referring services who currently refer or may consider referring clients into Supported Residential Services (SRS).

The document is intended to provide guidance on the key considerations for making appropriate referrals into an SRS, including the roles and responsibilities of both SRS proprietors and the referral agencies and services.

• Supported residential services outreach and assistance program guidelines
• Supported residential services outreach and assistance program requirements for funded organisations

• Homelessness Services guidelines and Conditions of Funding 
• Homelessness and Housing Support guidelines

The Victorian Housing Register (VHR) was implemented in partnership between the community housing sector, the homelessness services sector, including family violence, and the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.