Applying for Housing Thank you for your interest in applying for accommodation with Housing Choices Australia. Housing Choices Australia is a leading national not-for-profit housing provider and is dedicated to ensuring all people are affordably housed in neighbourhoods that support life opportunities and in affordable homes across Australia, by working with partners to create resilient and inclusive neighbourhoods. This application is for our Affordable Housing properties only. We also have properties that are managed in association with and by referral from support agencies to assist people with disabilities. For more information regarding this please contact us on 1300 312 447. Am I eligible? The first step is to refer to our Eligibility Check List at the end of this information sheet. If you are eligible you will then need to complete the Application for Housing and send with all required supporting documents to our office for assessment. What happens after I submit the Application for Housing? We will assess your application and send you a letter with the outcome. Please complete carefully because if fields are incomplete or eligibility documents are not supplied we will return the application to you and this will delay the process. How long do I have to wait? We are unable to give exact timeframes. The number of people on our waitlist for housing has grown significantly over the past few years and we do not have enough housing for the number of people who have applied for accommodation. There are a number of factors that affect how long you will need to wait including: The availability of vacant properties that match the type of housing you need and in the areas that you request. Like other Housing Associations, over half of our vacant properties are filled from applicants on the Public Housing Wait List. This is because the Victorian Government has helped fund the building of these properties. Therefore, if you are on a low income you may wish to consider registering for public housing as well. What happens if my situation changes? Please let us know immediately if any of your personal or housing circumstances change. You should ensure you provide us with up to date contact details as we need to be able to contact you quickly if a property becomes available. Page 1 of 9
How will you contact me if I am offered a property? We will do this by telephone or email. It is very important that if you change your details to let us know your new number. What type of properties do you have? There are a variety of properties including apartments, townhouses, units and a small number of houses. We also have a number of fully modified homes for people who live with disabilities. Are you are currently homeless and require immediate housing? Housing Choices Australia operates a Housing Information Referral service that is available between 9:00am and 5:00pm that can help you identify alternative providers who may be able to help you. To access this service please phone 1300 312 447 and ask to speak with our HIR/HEF Officer. Alternatively you can contact the Department of Health and Human Services Housing Crisis Line on 1800 825 955 to speak to a housing and support worker. This service operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You may also visit http://www.housing.vic.gov.au/ for more information. What about my privacy? All the information you give us will be handled in accordance with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 and the Health Records Act 2001. If you wish for someone not listed on the application to be able to contact us we will need your written consent to do so. This can include family members, support workers and advocates. Submitting the application Post: Email: Housing Choices Australia vacancies@hcau.org.au 4/333 Queen Street Fax: MELBOURNE VIC 3000 1300 312 737 Page 2 of 9
Eligibility Check List Please read the following very carefully. If you answer YES to all of the following questions, you are eligible to make an application for Affordable Housing with Housing Choices Australia. Check List Must be 18 years of age Primary applicant Must be a Permanent Resident or Citizen of Australia (proof required) Must be a current resident of Victoria (proof required) Your income must be no more than the below maximum limits: (including children of any age) One Person $934.00 gross per week $48,717.00 per annum Two Person $1,430.00 gross per week $74,564.00 per annum Three Person $1,930.00 gross per week $100,610.00 per annum For all household members over 18 please provide the most current Centrelink Income Statement and/or 13 consecutive weeks of payslips. If self-employed we require a current tax return statement or profit and loss statement. Provide 2 months of current bank statements for all accounts for household members over the age of 18. Must have Assets less than $30,000 and not own any Real Estate (Residential/Commercial) Proof of Identity you will need to provide copies of one Primary ID and two secondary ID from the below. Primary ID Drivers licence Passport (must be current) Key pass Birth Certificate (or extract) Citizenship Documents Secondary ID Medicare card Pension card Centrelink concession card Electoral Role Registration Motor Vehicle Registration Utility Rates Page 3 of 9
HOUSING APPLICATION FORM 1. PRIMARY APPLICANT S PERSONAL DETAILS ALL APPLICANT S OVER 18 YEARS OF AGE MUST PROVIDE IDENTIFICATION, A COPY OF AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP, PASSPORT OR PROOF OF PERMANENT RESIDENCY. Mr Mrs Miss Ms Dr Prof Other Family Name: Given Name: Date of Birth: CRN: Gender: Male Female Transgender Prefer not to state * If your postal address differs from your residential please complete below CONTACT DETAILS Home Phone: Business/ Work Phone: Mobile No: Email: POSTAL ADDRESS (IF DIFFERENT FROM YOUR RESIDENTIAL) Residency Status Australian Citizen Permanent Resident Is an Interpreter Required? Yes No If yes, which language? Do you identify as? Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Both FOR ADDITIONAL APPLICANT PERSONAL DETAILS PLEASE REFER TO ATTACHMENT AT THE END OF THIS DOCUMENT. Page 4 of 9
2. DEPENDANT DETAILS DEPENDANT DETAILS For all dependants to be housed with you please complete the below: Name: Sex: M/ F Date of Birth: Relationship to you: Name: Sex: M/ F Date of Birth: Relationship to you: Name: Sex: M/ F Date of Birth: Relationship to you: Name: Sex: M/ F Date of Birth: Relationship to you: 3. CURRENT SITUATION What housing type are you currently living in? Private Rental Student Housing Emergency Accommodation Community Housing Supported Residential Public Housing Service Transitional Housing Hospital/ Rehab Unit Rooming House/ Hotel Family/ Friends Refuge or Hostel Homeless/Sleeping Rough Other (please specify): How long have you lived at this current address? Years: Months: Name of Landlord/ Agent (if applicable): Phone Number: Rent paid per week: $ How much longer are you able to remain at this address? Page 5 of 9
4. INCOME AND ASSETS For all household members over 18 please provide the most current Centrelink Income Statement and/or 13 consecutive weeks of payslips, 2 months of current bank statements. If Self Employed we require a current tax return statement or profit and loss statement. EMPLOYMENT DETAILS Employer Name & Address: Contact Name: Phone No: Term of Employment: Position Held: Income per annum: $ SELF-EMPLOYMENT DETAILS Business Name: ABN: Business Type: Account Name: Position Held: Do you or have any assets? Yes No Assets can include savings, shares, businesses and accessible superannuation if yes, please list: Do you or anyone in the household own or part own property (commercial or residential)? Yes No If yes, please indicate if the following apply: Are you able to reside in the property? Can this be sold or is it currently for sale? 5. HOUSING NEED Do you or anyone living with you have a vehicle? If yes, please list the Vehicle Registration Number: Yes No Do you or anyone living with you have a pet? Yes No If yes, what type? Do you or anyone living with you need disability modifications? Yes No If yes, you will be required to supply supporting documentation e.g. a letter from your treating doctor, psychologist or support worker: Page 6 of 9
Do you require an extra bedroom? Yes No Bedroom entitlement is based on your household. If extra bedrooms are needed you will be required to supply supporting evidence. Please outline your reason below: Are you or anyone else living with you expecting a baby? Yes No If yes, what is the due date: Please provide us with any additional information that relates to your need for housing: 6. LOCATION PREFERENCES: Please tell us where you would like to live. You can select as many choices from the list below as you like. Preferences are based on Local Government Area s and regions may contain more than one choice. Inner City: CBD/ Yarra Western: Brimbank/ Wyndham Eastern: Knox/ Whitehorse/ Maroondah Maribyrnong/ Hobsons Bay Southern: Greater Dandenong/ Kingston Frankston Northern: Moreland/ Darebin Hume/Whittlesea 7. ALTERNATE CONTACT DETAILS: Greater Geelong Greater Shepparton Rosebud NEXT OF KIN CONTACT DETAILS: Next of Kin Name: Relationship: Home Phone: Mobile No: Business/ Work Phone: Email: SUPPORT AGENCY CONTACT DETAILS (IF APPLICABLE): Support Worker Name: Agency: Address: Mobile No: Business/ Work Phone: Email: Page 7 of 9
8. PUBLIC HOUSING: Do you have an Application for Housing with the Department of Health and Human Services? Yes No If yes, what is the application number? 8. CONSENT SECTION AND DECLARATION Please read carefully and tick each consent below: I approve Housing Choices Australia to contact my Next of Kin on my behalf in relation to my application and housing. I approve Housing Choices Australia to contact my Support Worker on my behalf in relation to my application and housing. If allocated housing I provide consent for Housing Choices Australia to advise the Department of Health and Human Services of my acceptance of long term housing and agree to have your application number removed from the Department of Human Services waiting list. All information I have provided in this application is true and correct. Name: Signature: Date: All the information you give us will be handled in accordance with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 and the Health Records Act 2001. Page 8 of 9
ATTACHMENT: ADDITIONAL APPLICANT Mr Mrs Miss Ms Dr Prof Other Family Name: Given Name: Date of Birth: CRN: Gender: Male Female Transgender Prefer not to state * If your postal address differs from your residential please complete below CONTACT DETAILS Home Phone: Business/ Work Phone: Mobile No: Email: POSTAL ADDRESS (IF DIFFERENT FROM YOUR RESIDENTIAL) Residency Status Australian Citizen Permanent Resident Is an Interpreter Required? Yes No If yes, which language? Do you identify as? Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Both Page 9 of 9