Ex-prisoner accommodation

The following are services that provide supported accommodation specifically for ex-prisoners. Their addresses are generally acceptable for parole purposes. Demand is high and beds are few.

Community Restorative Centre (CRC) CRC has a supported accommodation program. Prisoners need to apply before release
Ph: (02) 9288 8700
Glebe House 12-week transition program for men leaving prison.
Ph: (02) 9566 4630
Guthrie House Temporary support accommodation for women.
Ph: (02) 9564 5977
Rainbow Lodge Short term (three months) accommodation; prisoners need to apply before release or through probation and parole.
Ph: (02) 9660 7695
Wayback Housing service for men on methadone.
Ph: (02) 9633 4800
Western Housing for 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

Other housing options

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 be required to acknowledge debts to 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 you can getting public housing again. If the tenancy issues were extreme, such as extensive property damage, they may be ineligible for public housing. DoH 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
DoH 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:
pBe eligible for public housing
pHave less that $1,000 in savings
pBe 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 DoH. Rent Assistance is available from Centrelink with regular Centrelink payment to eligible people.

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.

Crisis Accommodation

Numbers to call if for the  homeless or people needing somewhere to stay in an emergency.
Homeless Persons Information Centre is 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