Need help?

We do not provide emergency accommodation or other housing. If you need housing assistance, here are the contact details for a range of agencies that may be able to help you.

• People who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
• Public housing tenants
• Community housing tenants
• Private renters
• Residents of residential parks (caravans, mobile homes, manufactured homes)
• Boarders and lodgers
• Affordable housing tenants
• Aboriginal people
• Home purchasers
• Ex-prisoners
• People with disability
• People living with HIV/AIDS
• Residents of residential care facilities for older people (retirement villages, nursing homes, hostels)
• Refugees
• People requiring assistance with living conditions
• People with legal issues
• People who have issues with electricity, gas and water suppliers
• People seeking financial advice
• People seeking counselling

For emergency accommodation and support services — ring the Homeless Persons Information Centre on 1800 234 566 (Monday-Sunday 9.00 am-10.00 pm; closed for lunch 1.00 pm-2.00 pm – this is a state-wide service)

For overnight accommodation if you are homeless — ring Housing NSW’s After-hours Temporary Accommodation Line on 1800 152 152 (Monday-Friday 4.30 pm-8.00 pm, Sat, Sun, public holidays 10.00 am-10.00 pm)

For women in need of temporary accommodation because of domestic violence — ring Community Services’ Domestic Violence Line on 1800 656 463 (7 days a week, 24 hours a day); also see Domestic Violence

For young people (people under 18 years) seeking emergency accommodation — ring Yconnect on 1800 424 830 or (02) 9318 1531 (a recorded message of crisis accommodation vacancies is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, plus vacancies are listed on their website) — a homeless youth support worker is available Monday-Friday, 9.00 am-5.00 pm

For general enquiries about housing assistance — go to Housing Pathways or ring Housing NSW on 1300 468 746 (7 days, 24 hours)

For people who need an interpreter — ring the Translating and Interpreting Service National on 131 450 (7 days, 24 hours) and ask to speak with one of the above agencies.

Public housing tenants

For applications for a new social housing tenancy (whether with Housing NSW or a community housing association):

• you will need to lodge a social housing application form at your nearest social housing office (whether this is a Housing NSW office or a community housing association office)
• to find your nearest Housing NSW office, see the Housing NSW list of offices; to find your nearest community housing association, see Housing Pathway's community housing providers contact list and also the NSW Federation of Housing Associations directory
• for application forms for social housing and information about how to apply, go to Housing Pathways; information about how to apply is also available from the NSW Federation of Housing Associations
• if you wish to apply only for housing with Housing NSW (and not with both Housing NSW and a community housing provider), you will need to specify this on your application

For tenancy information — ring the Tenants Union of NSW on (02) 8117 3700 to find your local Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service, or go to their website and enter your postcode

For feedback to Housing NSW — ring 1300 468 746 (7 days, 24 hours)

For appeals against a decision of a social housing provider (whether Housing NSW or a community housing provider):

• first you need to appeal directly to your social housing provider against the decision; for a Review of Decisions (First Tier Appeal) Application, go to Housing Pathways; contact details for your local Housing NSW office may be accessed from the Housing NSW list of offices
• if you are not satisfied with the result of this appeal, you can appeal to the Housing Appeals Committee on 1800 629 794

For applications for a new social housing tenancy (whether with a community housing association or Housing NSW):

• you will need to lodge a social housing application form at your nearest social housing office (whether this is a community housing association office or a Housing NSW office)
• to find your nearest community housing association, see Housing Pathway's community housing providers contact list and also the NSW Federation of Housing Associations directory; to find your nearest Housing NSW office, see the Housing NSW list of offices
• for application forms for social housing and information about how to apply, go to Housing Pathways; information about how to apply is also available from the NSW Federation of Housing Associations
• if you wish to apply only for housing with a community housing provider (and not with both a community housing provider and Housing NSW), you will need to specify this on your application
  

For tenancy information — ring the Tenants Union of NSW on (02) 02 8117 3750, 1800 251 101; or NSW Fair Trading on 133 220, 1300 723 404 (TTY)

For Commonwealth Rent Assistance, if you are a social security recipient — ring Centrelink on 13 1021 (Monday-Friday 8.00 am -5.00 pm), 1800 810 586 (TTY)

For appeals against a decision of a social housing provider (whether a community housing provider or Housing NSW):

• first you need to appeal directly to your social housing provider against the decision; for a Review of Decisions (First Tier Appeal) Application, go to Housing Pathways; contact details for your community housing association may be accessed from Housing Pathway's community housing providers contact list and also the NSW Federation of Housing Associations directory; information on complaints against community housing providers is also available from the NSW Federation of Housing Associations
• if you are not satisfied with the result of this appeal, you can appeal to the Housing Appeals Committee on 1800 629 794

For help with a bond payment and rent advance for a new tenancy, under the Rentstart scheme — ring Housing NSW on 1300 468 746 (Monday-Friday 8.00 am-6.00 pm, Saturday 10.00 am-3.00 pm)

For other forms of private rental assistance — ring Housing NSW on 1300 468 746 (Monday-Friday 8.00 am-6.00 pm, Saturday 10.00 am-3.00 pm) or check out the Housing Pathways website.

For rental bond information — ring NSW Fair Trading on 1800 500 330, 1300 723 404 (TTY) (also see their information about starting a tenancy, tenancy databases and discrimination when renting)

For Commonwealth Rent Assistance, if you are a social security recipient — ring Centrelink on 13 1021 (Monday-Friday 8.00 am-5.00 pm), 1800 810 586 (TTY)

For tenancy information or complaints about landlords or real estate agents — ring the Tenants Union of NSW on (02) 8117 3700 to find your local Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service, or go to their website and enter your postcode; or NSW Fair Trading 1800 500 330, 1300 723 404 (TTY)

For help with bond payment and rent advance for a new tenancy, under the Rentstart scheme — ring Housing NSW on 1300 468 746 (Monday-Friday 8.00 am-6.00 pm, Saturday 10.00 am-3.00 pm)

For rental bond information — ring NSW Fair Trading on 1800 500 330, 1300 723 404 (TTY)

For Commonwealth Rent Assistance, if you are a social security recipient — ring Centrelink on 13 1021 (Monday-Friday 8.00 am-5.00 pm), 1800 810 586 (TTY)

For tenancy information or complaints about park managers or park owners — ring the Tenants Union of NSW on (02) 8117 3700 to find your local Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service, or go to their website and enter your postcode; or NSW Fair Trading on 1800 500 330, 1300 723 404 (TTY)

To check the details of a residential park, see the NSW Residential Parks Register (operated by NSW Fair Trading).

For information for boarders and lodgers or complaints about landlords — ring the Tenants Union of NSW on (02) 8117 3700 to find your local Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service, or go to their website and enter your postcode; or NSW Fair Trading on 1800 500 330, 1300 723 404 (TTY)

For complaints about assisted boarding houses — ring Ageing, Disability and Home Care on (02) 8270 2000, (02) 8270 2167 (TTY)

To check the details of a boarding house, see the NSW Boarding House Register (operated by NSW Fair Trading).

For applications for a new affordable housing tenancy — ring a community housing association which provides affordable housing in your area (contact details are available from the Centre for Affordable Housing website or ring (02) 8753 8181)

For housing advice for Aboriginal people (on matters such as private tenancies, Aboriginal Housing Office tenancies, Housing NSW tenancies, home purchase, emergency accommodation, Aboriginal community housing providers, local Aboriginal land councils and real estate agents) — ring the Aboriginal Housing Information Service on 1800 727 555, (02) 8836 9444 (Monday-Friday 9.00 am-5.00 pm)

To speak to an Aboriginal operator about applications for a new tenancy with Housing NSW and other enquiries — ring Housing NSW on 1300 468 746 (Monday-Friday 8.30 am-4.30 pm)

For complaints about the administration of your tenancy where your dwelling is owned by the Aboriginal Housing Office — ring the Housing Appeals Committee on 1800 629 794

For tenancy information for Aboriginal people or complaints about landlords — ring the Tenants Union of NSW on (02) 8117 3700 to find your local Aboriginal Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service, or go to their website; or NSW Fair Trading on 1800 500 330, 1300 723 404 (TTY)

For Commonwealth Rent Assistance, if you are a social security recipient — ring Centrelink on 13 1021 (Monday-Friday 8.00 am-5.00 pm), 1800 810 586 (TTY)

For general assistance for home purchasers — ring Housing NSW’s Home Purchase Advisory Service on 1300 468 746 (7 days, 24 hours)

For a first homeowner grant under the First Homeowner Grant Scheme — ring the Office of State Revenue on 1300 130 624

For exemptions or concessions on transfer duty and mortgage duty under the First Home New—Home Scheme — ring the Office of State Revenue on 1300 130 624

For home loans for Aboriginal people under the Indigenous Business Australia Home Ownership Program — ring 1800 107 107

For housing assistance for ex-prisoners — ring the Community Restorative Centre on (02) 9288 8700; see also Gimme Shelter

For accommodation for people with disability — ring a regional office of Ageing, Disability and Home Care

For access to a Private Rental Subsidy — ring Housing NSW on 1300 468 746

For advocacy for people with disability — ring People With Disability Australia on 1800 422 015 or (02) 9370 3100 (TTY: (02) 9318 2138; TTY toll free: 1800 422 016)

For advocacy for people with disability from non-English speaking backgrounds — ring the Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association of NSW on 1800 629 072 or (02) 9891 6400

For accommodation for people living with HIV/AIDS — ring ACON on 1800 063 060

For access to a Private Rental Subsidy — ring Housing NSW on 1300 468 746

Residents of residential care facilities for older people (retirement villages, nursing homes, hostels)

For complaints about your residential care provider — ring the Aged-care Rights Service on (02) 9281 3672, 1800 424 079

To check the details of a retirement village, see the NSW Retirement Village Register.

Refugees

For referrals for emergency or short-term accommodation for refugees — ring the Asylum Seekers Centre on (02) 9361 5606

People requiring assistance with living conditions

For people concerned about others requiring assistance with living conditions — see the Squalor and Hoarding Toolkit from Catholic Community Services and the City of Sydney

People with legal issues

For people with legal issues — ring Law Access NSW on 1300 888 529 (Monday-Friday 9:00-17:00 excluding public holidays); if you have a hearing or speech impairment, call Law Access using a Telephone Typewriter (TTY) on 1300 889 529; if you need an interpreter, call Law Access through the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450 (TIS is a free and confidential service)

For people with legal issues who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness — attend a free legal clinic operated by the Homeless Persons Legal Service in Sydney, or attend a Legal Aid NSW Homeless Legal Advice Service if you are outside Sydney.

For low-income people who need legal help — ring Legal Aid NSW on 1300 888 529 (for minor assistance and casework services, including advice on mortgage payments and other debt issues)

For appeals against a decision of a social housing provider (whether Housing NSW or a community housing provider):

• first you need to appeal directly to your social housing provider against the decision; for a Review of Decisions (First Tier Appeal) Application, go to Housing Pathways; contact details for your local Housing NSW office may be accessed from the Housing NSW list of offices; contact details for your community housing association may be accessed from the Housing Pathway's community housing providers contact list or the NSW Federation of Housing Associations directory; information on complaints against community housing providers is also available from the NSW Federation of Housing Associations
• if you are not satisfied with the result of this appeal, you can appeal to the Housing Appeals Committee on 1800 629 794

People who have issues with electricity, gas and water suppliers

For people who are having difficulties paying electricity or water bills — ring your supplier to ask if they offer flexible payment schemes or payment assistance

For people having difficulties paying energy bills — ring the Energy Accounts Payment Assistance Scheme on 1300 729 867; call the Home Energy Saver Scheme on 1800 007 001; also see 'What assistance is there to help with my energy bills?' under Supporting You

For people who have disputes with electricity, gas and (some) water suppliers — ring the Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW on 1800 246 545 (Monday-Friday 9.00 am-5.00 pm, excluding public holidays) or lodge an online complaint to EWON

People seeking financial advice

For people seeking financial advice on credit, debt and banking issues — ring the Consumer Credit Legal Centre on 1800 808 488 (for credit and debt issues) or 1300 663 464 (for insurance issues) (Monday– Friday 9.30 am-4.30 pm)

For people seeking financial advice and counselling about managing debts and payments — contact a Financial Counselling Services Program service

People seeking counselling

For people seeking access to crisis support, suicide prevention and mental health support services — ring Lifeline on 13 11 14 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or access Lifeline's online resources

For emergency referrals to community mental health services — ring the Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)

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