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Housing Pathways is the way applications for social housing assistance are processed in NSW. It is a partnership between FACS, including the Aboriginal Housing Office, and 25 participating community housing providers.
Housing Pathways provides:
- a consistent, streamlined way to apply for housing assistance
- a common assessment process
- a single waiting list known as the NSW Housing Register.
The Housing Pathways strategy is to create a system with “no wrong doors”. This means that through any Housing Pathways provider – whether that’s FACS Housing or a participating community housing provider – people can find out about all the options available to them for housing assistance, submit or change an application, enquire about its progress or request a transfer. As a result, clients can access a wider range of opportunities and make informed choices from the beginning while the assessment process for housing providers becomes more streamlined and efficient.
Housing Pathways is the central housing register for all community and social housing in New South Wales. Applying or updating your details through Housing Pathways is now easier and simpler. Applicants can choose to make an enquiry, apply or update details; online, by phone or go to any participating community housing provider (like Pacific Link) or social housing provider through their local FACS Housing Office (Family and Community Services). When you apply, you’ll be asked a series of questions so that we can assess your situation and your needs. We’ll also ask for your Medicare and Centrelink numbers so that we can confirm your identity easily, which will help speed up your application. Please have this information ready when you call.
Link2home
1800 152 152
WAITING TIMES
The NSW Housing Register is a single list of approved clients waiting for social housing. Clients are listed in order according to their required housing location, their approval category and approval date.
When a social housing provider approves a client for social housing, the provider will place the client on the NSW Housing Register. FACS Housing and community housing organisations will then use this register to identify suitable applicants for their vacant properties, programs and services.
The time that a client will wait on the NSW Housing Register depends on:
- the number of vacancies
- the supply of social housing in the area, including the number of social housing providers
- the number of people waiting for the same type of housing in the same area who have been waiting longer
- willingness to accept offers of both public and community housing
- the number of people who have demonstrated a high need to be housed
- the number of applicants leaving the NSW Housing Register.
Clients may change their preference to an area with a shorter waiting time, or change their provider preference, at any time prior to a housing provider making an offer of housing.
For further information on the expected waiting times please refer to the FACS website.
Pacific Link Housing is working hard to increase the number of homes available for community and social housing in our region and is currently investing in a range of projects on its own and in partnership with government and others.
You can find out more about our Policy on this, here: Allocation & Offer of Housing Policy
Homelessness
Link2Home can help you if you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
Link2home is the new, state wide homelessness information and referral telephone service.
It brings together several homelessness telephone services including the Homeless Persons Information Centre (HPIC), Youth Connect and the After Hours Temporary Accommodation (TA) line.
For information, assessment or referral to homelessness services and support in NSW, call Link2home on 1800 152 152.
Link2home is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year.
From 9am to 10pm daily, Link2home provides callers with information, assessments and referrals to homelessness support and accommodation services across NSW.
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for community or social housing, you must:
- Be an Australian citizen or a permanent resident
- Live in New South Wales (NSW)
- Have a household income within the income-eligibility limits
- Not own any assets or property that you could live in
- Be able to sustain a successful tenancy, with or without support
- In general, be at least 18 years of age.
You will also need to prove your identity and, if you have any debts with a social housing provider from a previous tenancy, you must be making regular repayments. To see if you are eligible for housing assistance go to the Housing Pathways site and check the criteria listed there.
You can find Pacific Link’s Policy on this, here: Eligibility & Application Policy
APPLICATION FORMS
Use the following links to download additional advice and application forms.
Applying for Social Housing Information Sheet
Evidence Requirements Information Sheet
Application for Housing Assistance Form
Social Housing Supplement Form
Urgent Applications
While Pacific Link is required to operate within the Housing Pathways system, we will assist in processing urgent applications from eligible applicants where this is possible. For assistance contact Pacific Link Housing.
Other Forms of Support
Our Housing team works closely with our Client Support Co-ordinators (CSCs) who are committed to, and qualified in, the provision of assistance to tenants with medical, health and welfare needs. PLH’s CSC team identifies our tenants’ support needs and works to strengthen partnerships, build our mutual understanding and, where needed, push agencies to raise their standards of service delivery. The CSCs work with tenants on a one-on-one basis to help them get the care and support services they need, co-ordinating delivery of services from other support agencies and ongoing monitoring. Our approach reflects best practice in the community housing sector, as recognised in a past case study published by the Registrar of Community Housing.
Pacific Link Housing also works as a referral service to help people in need connect with a range of additional services and service providers that may of assistance. Please contact us if you need help to access services such as:
- Emergency accommodation
- Aged care
- Mental health
- Disability services
- Family support
- Financial counseling
- General counseling
- Youth support
- Women’s services