This information is for Disability Services, non-government organisations and substitute decision-makers who are assisting clients applying for housing in shared housing arrangements.
What is Housing with Shared Support?
Housing with Shared Support is a form of housing assistance for people with disability support needs. This type of housing is intended to assist mutual clients of the Department of Housing and Public Works and the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services to live successfully in the community with ongoing support. Housing with Shared Support enables a group of people to live together (or in close proximity) to facilitate the sharing of support services.
Each client living in Housing with Shared Support has the same rights and responsibilities as other social housing tenants.
Eligibility for Housing with Shared Support
Clients applying for housing assistance to be part of a Housing with Shared Support household must:
- lodge an individual Application for Housing Assistance form and be eligible for social housing, and
- have a disability funding support package approved by Disability Services, and
- agree to enter into a Housing with Shared Support arrangement with the disability support agency, and
- agree to live together and/or in close proximity with other individuals in social housing for the purpose of sharing the support they will receive.
Filling a vacancy in an existing Housing with Shared Support household
Clients applying to join an existing Housing with Shared Support household will only be considered if:
- the disability support agency identifies the client as suitable to fill the vacancy, and
- they are eligible for social housing and for Housing with Shared Support, and
- they have completed a successful trial period. A trial period is a set period of time where the client joins the household and does not pay rent. A trial period is used by the disability support agency, with the consent of all parties, to assess the compatibility of an individual with existing household members for the purpose of sharing support.
Further information
Please contact your nearest Housing Service Centre.
Also refer to the fact sheets:
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