Housing options for ex-prisoners

If you are trying to find accommodation for an ex-prisoner, there are several options to try:

Ex-prisoner accommodation
Public housing
Community housing
Rentstart
Crisis accommodation

Ex-prisoner accommodation services

These services provide supported accommodation specifically for ex-prisoners. Their addresses are generally acceptable for parole purposes. Be aware that demand is high and beds are few.

Community Restorative Centre
(CRC) CRC has a supported accommodation program for men, and transitional support projects for men and women, with a focus on securing and maintaining good, independent accommodation.
Ph: (02) 9288 8700.

Glebe House
12-week transition program for men leaving prison.
Ph: (02) 9566 4630

Guthrie House
Temporary supported accommodation for women.
Ph: (02) 9564 5977

Rainbow Lodge
Short term (three months) accommodation for men; prisoners need to apply before release or through probation and parole.
Ph: (02) 9660 7695

Wayback Housing
Accommodation service for men on methadone.
Ph: (02) 9633 4800

Western Housing
Youth Housing service for people under 21 in western Sydney.
Ph: (02) 9689 2740

Yulawirri Nurai Indigenous Association
Accommodation service for Aboriginal people in the Lake Macquarie area.
Ph: (02) 4973 5560
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Public Housing

Former public housing tenants may be able to get public housing on leaving prison provided they meet income and other eligibility criteria. They may also need to acknowledge debts to Housing NSW (formerly DoH) and agree to repay any money owed. If they owed a lot of money, or had serious tenancy difficulties, they may be asked to show they can manage to rent privately for six months before getting public housing again. If the tenancy issues were extreme, such as extensive property damage, they may be ineligible for public housing.

Housing NSW
Ph: 1800 629 212

Aboriginal Enquiry Line
Information and advice from Aboriginal staff of DoH. Open 8.30am – 4.30pm weekdays.
Ph: 1800 355 740

Rentstart

Housing NSW can also help people get started in private renting with Rentstart. Standard Rentstart payment is three weeks rent towards a bond to help set up a new lease. To get Rentstart or Rentstart Plus, the rent for the property should be 50% or less of a person’s  income. Rentstart help is usually available once a year. Ex-prisoners, within a month of leaving prison, can get Rentstart Plus. Rentstart Plus can pay the full bond and two weeks’ rent for private rental or a boarding house. To get Renstart Plus a person must:
Be eligible for public housing
Have less that $1,000 in savings
Be able to stay in the property for 12 months

Rentstart Tenancy can pay rent people owe so that they can stay in an established lease. This payment is available only once a year. Apply through Housing NSW. Rent Assistance is available from Centrelink with regular Centrelink payment to eligible people.
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Community Housing

Community housing is subsidised housing managed by local organisations. Rent is usually about 25% of income. A person can apply for this when they apply for public housing by ticking that option on the form. DoH can then refer them to an appropriate community housing organisation. People  can also apply directly to a particular organisation if they’re  on the Housing Register for public housing.Directory of community housing organsiations.
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Crisis Accommodation

Numbers to call for the  homeless or people needing somewhere to stay in an emergency.

Homeless Persons Information Centre
The first place to call in a housing emergency, Homeless Persons has information about crisis bed availability across NSW. Ph: (02) 9265 9081 1800 234 566 (from outside Sydney)

Inner City Homelessness Outreach and Support Service
Inner Sydney service offering outreach and help finding accommodation.
Ph: 1800 505 501

Temporary Accommodation After Hours Line (DoH)
The Department of Housing may be able to help if you need somewhere to stay in the short term. This number is open 4.30pm–10pm on weekdays and 10am – 10pm on weekends.
Ph: 1800 152 152

Youth Emergency Accommodation Line
A recorded listing of vacancies in crisis refuges throughout NSW, updated daily by 9.30am.
Ph: (02) 9698 5822 1800 424 830 (from outside Sydney)

Women’s Information and Referral Service
Referral line to find housing and other support services for women. Ph: 1800 817 227

Aboriginal Homeless Persons
24-hour helpline for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are homeless. Ph: (02) 9799 8446
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Gimme Shelter is funded by the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs under the National Homelessness Strategy.