Housing Choices Eligibility Criteria for Housing Establishment Funds (HEF) Assistance

Housing Establishment Funds is a grant program provided to assist eligible clients with a maximum of $700 once every 12 months.

The funding can only be accessed towards:

• Assistance to maintain/ establish private rental housing

• Access emergency/ short term accommodation

• Removalists and storage costs

HEF comes from the Department of Family, Fairness and Housing and is jointly funded by the Victorian and Federal governments under the National Affordable Housing Agreement.

To process any application for funding from Housing Choices Australia HEF program, the client must be in receipt of either a Disability Support Pension or Carers Payment (Carers Allowance is not included) through Centrelink. If the client meets these criteria to allocate the funding, we initially require copies of the following documents:

• Current Centrelink Income Statement

• Pension Card

• Secondary ID (driver’s license, Medicare card, bank card, etc.)

In addition, the following criteria needs to be met, and the additional documents required are:

For Rent in Advance:

➢ The client’s portion of rent must not exceed 55% of their income. ➢ Client must be in a private rental. Community and Public housing are not eligible as they receive subsidized rent.

➢ Letter of offer OR Lease Agreement

➢ Bank details of the housing provider (real estate, landlord, rooming house etc.)

• If the property is a rooming house, they need to be registered on the Public Register of rooming houses list.

• If the client is not lease through a real estate, we also require a copy of the owners’ current rates notice.

For Rent Arrears:

➢ The client’s portion of rent must not exceed 55% of their income.

➢ Client must be in a private rental. Community and Public housing are not eligible as they receive subsidized rent.

➢ Client must be at least 14 days in arrears and no more than $3000.

➢ Letter if arrears or Notice to Vacate from Real Estate Agent, Rooming House provider or Private Landlord

➢ Bank details of the housing provider (real estate, landlord, rooming house etc.)

• If the property is a rooming house, they need to be registered on the Public Register of rooming houses list.

• If the client is not lease through a real estate, we also require a copy of the owners’ current rates notice.

For Removalists Costs or Goods from Storage:

➢ An invoice from the removalists/ storage company

• Please note we only pay via invoice and process payments once a week.

For Emergency Accommodation:

➢ An invoice from the accommodation provider

• Please note we only pay via invoice and process payments once a week.

All eligibility criteria must be met to receive assistance, until all documents are provided, we will not confirm eligibility. All payments will be made to the service or housing provider directly not to the client.

If you have any questions, please contact Housing Choices on 1300 312 447 or email hef@hcau.org.au and ask for the HEF officer.

financial-wellbeing-booklet-arabic.pdf

Financial Wellbeing Booklet

Are you experiencing financial stress?
Are you having issues paying bills?
Do you need some financial advice?
Do you need some support?

Whittlesea Community Connections is a local not-for-profit organisation that provides information and support services. They have created a user-friendly booklet to help people living within our council area who may be experiencing financial hardship.

The Financial Wellbeing Booklet includes financial advice, resources, and information about relevant financial and support services.

The aim of the guide is to help you:

build your financial literacy
reduce financial stress
increase your wellbeing.

On these pages you’ll find content and information from the booklet.

https://www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/files/assets/public/v/1/documents/services/support-for-people/whittlesea-community-connections-financial-wellbeing-booklet.pdf - English

https://www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/files/assets/public/v/1/documents/services/financial-wellbeing-booklet-arabic.pdf

One Step at a Time Program - Parent Support for Childhood Anxiety

This program offers low cost assessment and support to help parents manage childhood anxiety in children aged children aged 6 - 11 years old. For more information, please view the attached flyer.

A similar program ran in 2024 with overwhelming popularity and success.

If you have any questions, please contact psychprojects@swin.edu.au.

Join our adult English conversation classes at Lalor East Primary School in Term 2, hosted by PRACE, where people from all languages and backgrounds come together to learn and practice English in a friendly, supportive environment, while also enjoying morning tea!

Whether you're a beginner or looking to improve your skills, these classes offer a great opportunity to connect with your community, meet new people, and build confidence in speaking English. Strengthen your communication skills, broaden your social network, and take a step toward feeling more connected and empowered in everyday life. Everyone is welcome!

The class will be run on Tuesdays between 9.15am -12.15pm

Please contact Kim if you are interested.

RELIEF FOR GAS/WATER ELECTRICITY

UTILITY RELIEF GRANT SCHEME -DFFH $650 x2

Relief grants for paying overdue energy or water bills are available to low-income Victorians experiencing unexpected hardship. What is the grant?

The grant provides help to pay a mains electricity, gas or water bill that is overdue due to a temporary financial crisis.

How much is the grant?

The amount of the grant is based on the amount you owe at the time of application. It is also based on the reasons you have given for applying in your application form.

You can receive a maximum of $650 on each utility type in a two-year period (or $1,300 for households with a single source of energy (for example, electricity only).

You can apply for separate grants for each utility (electricity, gas and water).

Who can apply for the grant?

An account holder who has one of the following eligible concession cards:

Pensioner Concession Card
Health Care Card
Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card.

If you don’t have one of these cards but are part of a low-income household, you may also be able to apply. Your retailer will ask you some questions to check if you are eligible before issuing a form.

The grant is available to renters and homeowners.

What are the criteria for the grant?

You must show that you have no way of paying the account without assistance and are at risk of disconnection, and you must meet one of the following criteria:

You or someone in your house has experienced family violence.
You have had a recent decrease in income, for example, lost your job.
You have had high unexpected costs for essential items, eg: medical expenses/car repairs.
The cost of shelter is more than 30% of your household income.

How do I apply for the grant? Phone your electricity, gas or water retailer to request an application. Your retailer will ask you some preliminary questions before starting your application.

Phone your electricity, gas or water retailer or the Concessions Information Line on 1800 658 521 for more information.

PLEASE CONTACT ME ON MONDAY OR THURSDAY IF YOU WOULD LIKE ASSISTANCE WITH ANY OF THE ABOVE SUPPORTS. Thanks, Kim

1:1 Device Program