Housing Establishment Funds

Overview

The Housing Establishment Fund (HEF) is a Victorian Government initiative that aims to address and prevent homelessness by providing financial assistance to individuals and families who are homeless or in housing crisis.

The YCH-MetroWest Housing Establishment Fund (HEF) is administered by the IAP service. Assistance is subject to eligibility criteria and an assessment in which factors such as sustainability and other issues that may be affecting the applicant’s situation are examined.

HEF is primarily used to assist homeless people to access crisis, longer-term or alternative-housing options, or to assist them to maintain their existing housing.

In assessing HEF applications IAP workers take into account a range of factors with the aim of achieving the best outcome in terms of the client’s housing situation. Financial assistance may not always be the most appropriate form of assistance. Successful outcomes may be achievable through referral to other forms of support/assistance to better meet individual needs.

 

Eligibility for HEF

Eligibility criteria are applied to HEF assistance in order to ensure that HEF is distributed to those in greatest housing need. This criteria is described in the Office of Housing Homelessness Assistance Program Guidelines, Part Six Flexible Funds Management - April 2008

To ensure that eligibility is assessed equitably HEF assistance is assessed against the OoH income and asset eligibility criteria for access to public housing and the Bond Loan Scheme.

In conjunction with income, HEF assessments take into account the level of risk involved for individual clients, e.g. their capacity to access the required resources to prevent a housing crisis.

 

What HEF Assistance is used for

MetroWest generally assists clients with HEF for:

  • Rent in advance (private rental)
  • Rent in arrears (private rental)
  • Emergency accommodation

HEF for rent in advance, rent arrears and removals is generally provided as a partial payment to the total sum required. YCH- MetroWest operates within the OoH guidelines in establishing assistance levels to individuals. Limits for assistance are made to ensure funds are available to meet demand, whilst ensuring that the amounts provided will result in successful outcomes for clients. For information about HEF assistance limits contact the IAP service on Free Call 1800 825 955

 

HEF is not available for:

  • Material relief (e.g. food, travel, clothes, personal expenses) other than in situations related to crisis assistance where limited assistance for food & travel to accommodation may be required
  • Household expenses (e.g. utility costs, property repairs)
  • Payment of public housing debts (e.g. rent in advance, arrears or outstanding bonds)
  • OoH bond loan top up payments.

 

How to Apply for HEF

If you would like to apply for HEF assistance from MetroWest it is advisable to ring first to discuss your application with a IAP worker.

To apply for HEF you will usually need to present a number of documents relating to your application. These include

  1. Current Centrelink, Austudy or Veterans’ Affairs income statement or bank statement and a current Healthcare Card. If you are employed recent payslips are required.
  2. If applying for assistance with rent in advance or rent in arrears you will need either a copy of your lease and/or letter from real estate agent or landlord. Arrears applications may also require copy of Notice to Vacate
  3. Proof of your identity

If you have any questions about which documents you will need or any other issues you wish to discuss please contact the IAP service.

HEF is not paid directly to the applicant. It can only be paid by cheque or bank transfer to the business or organisation (e.g. real estate, landlord etc).

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