If
you are having trouble paying these initial costs or meeting ongoing
expenses, there are places you can go for help:
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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING
The Department of Housing has a rental assistance scheme which provides
emergency financial assistance to help those people eligible to
enter or cope in the private rental market. To be eligible for Rentstart,
clients must:
• Be eligible for public housing
• Have limited cash assets, generally less than $1000
• Be able to sustain a tenancy in the private rental market.
Generally, Rentstart assistance will contribute up to 75% of the
cost of rental bond.
People in severe financial and housing circumstances may be eligible
for Rentstart Plus and provided with:
• Up to full bond
• Up to 2 weeks advance rent (3 weeks for furnished accommodation),
or
• Up to 4 weeks rent arrears
• Up to 4 weeks rent in temporary accommodation.
Assistance is generally limited to once in a 12-month period and
cannot be given to clients moving into, between or leaving public
or community housing managed properties unless the client is facing
eviction which is not the result of a breach of their tenancy agreement.
Phone your local Department of Housing office for more information
(See Contact Points), or check out their policies online at www.housing.nsw.gov.au
.
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THE SUPPORTED ACCOMMODATION ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM
The Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) run by the
Department of Family and Community Services funds community organisations
and local councils to provide supported accommodation and related
support services for people who are homeless and in crisis and for
women escaping domestic violence. Information and referrals are
available from the Homeless Persons Information Centre, the Domestic
Violence 24-hour phone line and the Emergency Youth Accommodation
Line. (see Contact
Points).
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CENTRELINK BENEFITS - RENT ASSISTANCE
If you pay rent, get a pension, allowance or benefit and do not
have dependent children you may be able to get Rent Assistance in
addition to the payment. To claim you'll need to show Centrelink
a copy of your lease with your name on it. Otherwise get a ‘Rent
Certificate’ form from Centrelink and take it to get the Agent
or Landlord to verify you are renting and what you are paying.
The maximum amount of Rent Assistance payable depends on a range
of factors. Most students get the maximum ‘Sharers’
rate of Rent Assistance. Sharing generally means you share the use
of common areas such as a kitchen or bathroom. If you are ‘Single’,
ie. you have the exclusive use of a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom,
or a ‘Border or Lodger’ you can get a higher amount
of Rent Assistance. To get the maximum amount you must be paying
an amount of rent above the threshold Centrelink considers to be
minimum rent. Most people in Sydney pay well above this threshold
so you’ll probably get the maximum amount.
Rent Assistance is not paid if you:
• pay rent to a government housing authority, although in
some situations subtenants may qualify for Rent Assistance;
• reside in a Commonwealth funded nursing home or hostel;
or
• are a single disability support pensioner under 21, without
dependents, living with parents; or
• are under 25, single and live with your parents; or
• get Austudy Payment
Phone your local Centrelink office to find out whether you are eligible
for Rent Assistance or check out their policies online at www.centrelink.gov.au.
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TIP: Tell Centrelink
if you move or your rent changes
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ENERGY ACCOUNTS PAYMENT ASSISTANCE
SCHEME
The EAPA Scheme is operated by the NSW Ministry of Energy,Utilities
and Sustainability to provide emergency help with electricity or
gas bills. Under the scheme, charities such as the Smith Family,
St Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army can provide electricity
vouchers to people in need, so contact one of these organisations
if you need help. The scheme is means-tested, taking into account
the whole household income, and is only available to the account
holder. Generally vouchers are only given to people on Centrelink
benefits or on a low income. The customer can forward the EAPA voucher
together with the balance of the bill to the electricity or gas
supplier. The supplier will credit the value of the voucher towards
the account. For more information, contact the Department of Energy,
Utilities and Sustainability (see Contact Points),
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EMERGENCY RELIEF
Emergency Relief is funded by the Commonwealth Government and is
available through more than 300 community organisations across NSW,
including charities (the Smith Family, St Vincent de Paul etc.),
Aboriginal organisations and neighbourhood centres. Under the scheme,
emergency assistance can be provided in the form of food vouchers,
prescription vouchers, petrol vouchers, assistance with rent/accommodation,
part payment of utility account/s, material assistance such as food
parcels or clothing, and sometimes cash. Guidelines for eligibility
and maximum amounts given are determined by each organisation. Contact
the Emergency Relief Co-ordinator in the Department of Family and
Community Services for more information (see Contact Points)
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TERTIARY STUDENT ASSISTANCE
If you're a tertiary student contact the students' association on
your campus for information about financial assistance for students.
Some Students' Representative Councils also give interest free loans.
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FINANCIAL COUNSELLOR
Financial counsellors can help you assess your financial situation
and support you while you make decisions about it. Contact a financial
counselling service like Creditline, or a financial counselling
referral service like Credit Helpline for a local service. See contact
points.
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