Young People Information

Homelessness can happen to any young person, and it is often the result of circumstances that are outside your control. You might be experiencing conflict at home, family violence, a relationship breakdown, financial stress, discrimination, mental health challenges, or difficulties finding affordable housing. Some young people may be asked to leave home unexpectedly, while others may not feel safe where they are living. 

If you are struggling to find a safe place to stay, it is important to know that you are not alone and support is available. There are free and confidential services, programs, and financial assistance options that can help with things like housing, income support, rent, utility bills, food, education, and other everyday needs. The information below has been put together to help you access the support and resources that may be available to you during difficult times and as you work towards stable housing and independence. 

Victorian Housing Register (VHR)

The Victorian Housing Register (VHR) is where you can register for social housing in Victoria. Social housing is made up of public housing and community housing. 

The register has two categories: 

  • Priority Access:  
    • This is for people: 
      • Who are homeless and receiving support 
      • Are escaping or have escaped family violence 
      • With a disability or significant support needs 
      • Who need to move for health reasons. 
  • Register of Interest: 
    • for people who do not meet the Priority Access criteria but are seeking to live in social housing. 

Register with HousingVic online services via MyGov

Updates to housing applications

An up-to-date application makes it easier to find a home that is suitable for your current needs. If your circumstances or housing preferences have changed, you can update your VHR application with HousingVic Online Services via myGOV. 

With HousingVic Online Services, you can receive and respond to notifications from the Department and view or update details about your housing application, including: 

  • status of your application 
  • personal and contact information 
  • preference areas  
  • Special Accommodation Requirements (if applicable) 
  • household details (update income, remove a household member). 

You can find out more about HousingVic Online Services at Online Services webpage. 

Alternatively, if you have found suitable housing or would like to discuss your housing application, you can contact your housing office. 

What affects the waiting time of an application? 

There are multiple factors that will impact on when you may be made an offer of social housing through the VHR and your wait time will depend on your circumstances, including: 

  • where you choose to live and what size home you need (there is a higher demand for social housing in certain locations such as inner metropolitan areas of Melbourne) 
  • the number of homes in your preferred location area and how often properties become vacant (to maximise your housing opportunity, you can select up to 5 preferred location areas) 
  • whether you have consented to all social housing types (such as public housing, community housing, Rental Co-operatives, community managed rooming houses, Aboriginal Housing Victoria) 
  • consideration of approved special accommodation requirements, typically relating to location, housing size, property access requirement and property type 
  • the number of other applications already approved on the VHR including priority access category groups such as people who have experienced homelessness, family violence or have other special housing needs, such as supported accommodation. 

Did you know you can choose up to 5 preferred areas where you can live? Each area you choose will be treated equally and you may be offered housing from any of the areas you have chosen. 

Housing Establishment Fund (HEF) 

The Housing Establishment Fund (HEF) program is a Victorian Government financial assistance product that aims to address and prevent homelessness HEF is a critical component of the homelessness service system. This fund is a program that provides financial help to eligible people with a housing-related hardship. 

The HEF program allows Specialist Homelessness Services to purchase emergency short term accommodation, maintain current housing, secure long-term housing and purchase tangible necessities to establish housing for individuals and families at risk or experiencing homelessness.  

People experiencing or at risk of homelessness can contact a homelessness entry point, including Aboriginal homelessness entry points to enquire if they are eligible for a HEF assessment. A list of homelessness entry points can be found on the Housing Vic website.  

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. 

RentAssist Bond Loans

If you want to rent privately in Victoria and need assistance with the bond, you may be able to borrow the money for an interest-free bond loan. 

If you want to rent privately, most residential rental providers will ask you to pay a bond before you move in. A bond is a security deposit in case you damage the property. The bond money is held by the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority. It is returned in full at the end of your lease, unless the residential rental provider is eligible to claim for damages or unpaid rent. 

The loans are for bonds only. If you need help with moving costs or for rent in advance, you may be eligible for help from the Housing Establishment Fund, see Financial help for private renters (see above). 

How much can I borrow? 

A bond loan amount is determined by the size of the property, the number of bedrooms and the number of people living in the property. 

The department provides bond assistance based on the actual size of the rented property. These limits are based on metropolitan median rents for each property size. 

These are effective from 1 October 2025. 

The maximum bond loan amounts are: 

  • Bedsit or 1 bedroom $2,150 
  • 2 bedrooms $2,650 
  • 3 bedrooms $2,900 
  • 4 or more bedrooms $2,600 

Eligibility Requirements

Households applying for a RentAssist bond loan must meet the following eligibility criteria: 

  • must be a permanent resident of Australia 
  • meet the RentAssist bond loan income and asset eligibility limits 
  • not own or part-own a residential property 
  • the rent for the property being leased should not be more than 55 per cent of the household’s total income, to ensure sufficient income for living costs 
  • proof of identity, residency status, income and other documents have been provided.  

There are special circumstances that allow an exemption to some of the eligibility criteria. 

To support the applicant in accessing private rental, when all required information has been provided, the application is assessed, and a voucher provided within three working days. 

Applicants under 18 years of age 

There is no minimum age requirement for bond eligibility provided they have an income and have been accepted as a renter by a rental provider or agent.

If the lease has been signed by another person with the applicant (i.e. their guardian), both persons’ income is assessed. If the applicant does not receive an income, the guardian’s income and asset documentation is assessed. 

Rent should not exceed 55 per cent of total household income 

To ensure that households have sufficient disposable income to sustain their living expenses, for a RentAssist bond loan to be approved, the weekly rent on the property should not be more than 55 percent of the total household income.

This is not including any additional charges such as utility or service charges. This is known as the rent ratio test. 

Services Australia (Centrelink) Crisis Payment 

A one-off non-taxable payment if you’ve experienced an extreme circumstance and are in severe financial hardship. 

There are different types of Crisis Payments for different extreme circumstances. 

We consider an extreme circumstance to be one of the following: 

  • you experienced an incident of family and domestic violence that forced you to leave your home 
  • you stayed in your home after experiencing domestic violence and the family member responsible left or was removed from the home 
  • you were forced to leave your home because of a circumstance and it’s unreasonable for you to return to your home in the near future 
  • you arrived in Australia as a humanitarian entrant for the first time 
  • you were in prison or psychiatric confinement for a period of at least 14 days. 

Each type of Crisis Payment has its own eligibility criteria. For the different types of crisis payments and the eligibility, please go to website link: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/crisis-payment 

Utility Relief Grant Scheme 

Relief grants for paying overdue energy or water bills are available to low-income Victorians experiencing unexpected hardship. 

What is the grant? 

The grant provides help to pay a mains electricity, gas or water bill that is overdue due to a temporary financial crisis. 

Who can apply for the grant? 

An account holder who has one of the following eligible concession cards: 

  • Pensioner Concession Card 
  • Health Care Card 
  • Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card. 

If you don’t have one of these cards but are part of a low-income household, you may also be able to apply. Your retailer will ask you some questions to check if you are eligible before issuing a form. The grant is available to renters and homeowners. 

What are the criteria for the grant?

You must show that you have no way of paying the account without assistance and are at risk of disconnection, and 

you must meet one of the following criteria: 

  • You or someone in your house has experienced family violence. 
  • You have had a recent decrease in income, for example, lost your job. 
  • You have had high unexpected costs for essential items. 

The cost of shelter is more than 30% of your household income. 

How much is the grant?

The amount of the grant is based on the amount you owe at the time of application. It is also based on the reasons you have given for applying in your application form. 

You can receive a maximum of $650 on each utility type in a two-year period (or $1,300 for households with a single source of energy (for example, electricity only). 

You can apply for separate grants for each utility (electricity, gas and water). 

How do I apply for the grant?

Phone your electricity, gas or water retailer to request an application. 
  
Your retailer will ask you some preliminary questions before starting your application. 

The application can be completed online, or your retailer will post you a paper form to complete. A friend, support worker or financial counsellor can help you complete the application. 

Tenancy Issues and Legal Support for Renters 

Be aware of your rights and responsibilities so you know what to do and who has to take action to fix the problem.

Support for renters

You can get help if you are having problems with your residential rental provider or real estate agent, like you are being treated unfairly or get a notice to vacate that was issued incorrectly or without the right reasons or notice period.

What to do if you get a notice to vacate

A notice to vacate is a legal notice. If you get one it means that the residential rental provider or real estate agent has begun legal action because you may have breached your residential rental agreement. For example, you could be behind in your rent.

Getting a notice to vacate doesn’t always mean that you need to move out immediately.

For information, advice and what to do:

  • Consumer Affairs Victoria has information on what to do if your residential rental provider gives notice to vacate
  • Tenants Victoria also has advice on notices to vacate.

If you need to find a new place to live, see Finding a place to rent for tips and information.

If you are a low income earner, you may be eligible for support, see support for private renters.link: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/crisis-payment 

Consumer Affairs Victoria

Consumer Affairs Victoria can answer all your questions about renting – from before you sign the lease until after you move out. 

Go to Consumer Affairs Victoria’s renting section for a wide range of useful information on renting and tools like complaints forms. 

The section includes: 

Tenants Victoria

The Tenants Victoria gives free advice to people that rent residential accommodation in Victoria. 

They also offer a renters advice line and email advice service. You can contact them through the Tenants Victoria contact page. 

For more info on their services or advice about renting, visit the Tenants Victoria website. 

Legal and dispute advice 

Victoria Legal Aid 

Victoria Legal Aid provides free legal advice and services. Some services are available to everyone, while other services are only for eligible people. 

For help or more information: 

Legal and dispute advice

Victoria Legal Aid 

Victoria Legal Aid provides free legal advice and services. Some services are available to everyone, while other services are only for eligible people. 

For help or more information: 

Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal 

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) decides disputes between residential rental providers and renters. 

If you and your residential rental provider have been unable to agree on issues like an excessive rent increase, urgent repairs or getting your bond back, you can apply to have VCAT hear the matter. 

You can find out more on VCAT’s residential tenancies disputes page. 

To find out your rights and responsibilities: Visit the 

Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria 

The centre provides a free service that helps people sort out their problems. It deals with many issues, including problems about fencing, trees, animals, noise, children and other neighbourhood disputes. 

The disputing parties meet with two independent mediators. They discuss the issues, think about solutions and decide on an outcome that everyone agrees with. 

For help or more information: 

Justice Connect 

Justice Connect provides legal advice and services for people who need help with legal problems or have questions about the law. They also offer advice for people who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness.  

For more information or advice about Justice Connect’s Homeless Law service: 

Family relationship support

Family Relationships Online has information to help with family issues – from building better relationships to dispute resolution. You can find services that may be able to help you. 

There is also a list of family relationship centres where you can get advice and information – use your postcode to find one near you. 

You can also call the Family Relationship Advice Line: 

  • Phone: 1800 050 321 (free call)   
    Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 am to 8 pm. Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm   
    Closed on Australian public holidays. 

National Redress Scheme 

Hope Street participates in the National Redress Scheme for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse. The Scheme is open until 30 June 2027. 

The program offers monetary payments of up to $150,000, access to counselling, and a direct personal response, such as an apology, for eligible survivors. 

Survivors seeking information about the Scheme, including how to apply and access free and confidential Redress Support Services, can visit the National Redress Scheme Resources page or contact the Scheme directly. Support is available by calling 1800 737 377 within Australia (call charges may apply) or +61 6222 3455 from overseas. 

Sign up for news and updates on Hope Street.