What is social housing?

Social housing is secure and affordable rental housing for people on low incomes who need accommodation. Social housing includes public housing properties owned or managed by NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC), Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ),  Aboriginal Housing Office, and community housing properties managed or owned by not-for-profit, non-government registered Community Housing Providers such as Evolve Housing.

How do I apply for social housing?

Evolve Housing understands that finding a new home can be challenging for many.

In NSW there is one process to apply for social housing, this system is called the NSW Government ‘Housing Pathways’ program, and all social housing applications are managed under this system. You will only need to complete one application to be on the state-wide waiting list.

Housing Pathways provides:

  • coordinated information about housing assistance
  • a single application process
  • common eligibility criteria for housing assistance and
  • a standard assessment process

To apply for social housing, please go to the Housing Pathways website. You can apply for social housing online, or over the phone on 1800 422 322.

Am I eligible for social housing?

To be eligible for social housing, an applicant must meet certain eligibility criteria. These include:

  • Be 18 years of age or older
  • Be a citizen or have permanent residency in Australia
  • Establish their identity
  • Have a household income within the specified eligibility limits
  • Not own any assets or property which could resolve their housing need
  • Be able to sustain a successful tenancy, without support or with appropriate support in place
  • If applicable, make repayments of any former debts to a social housing provider

Please note that additional eligibility criteria may apply for properties under specialist housing programs or arrangements.

To read more on social housing eligibility click here.

Please note that once you are approved for social housing you will be placed on a waiting list. To find out more information on expected waiting times please click here.

Social Housing FAQs Answered

Evolve Housing understands that finding a new home can be challenging for many. 

In NSW there is one process to apply for social housing, this system is called the NSW Government ‘Housing Pathways’ program, and all social housing applications are managed under this system. You will only need to complete one application to be on the state-wide waiting list. 

Housing Pathways provides: 

  • coordinated information about housing assistance 
  • a single application process 
  • common eligibility criteria for housing assistance and 
  • a standard assessment process 

To apply for social housing, please go to the Housing Pathways website. You can apply for social housing online, or over the phone on 1800 422 322. 

To be eligible for social housing, an applicant must meet certain eligibility criteria. These include:  

  • Be 18 years of age or older  
  • Be a citizen or have permanent residency in Australia  
  • Establish their identity  
  • Have a household income within the specified eligibility limits  
  • Not own any assets or property which could resolve their housing need  
  • Be able to sustain a successful tenancy, without support or with appropriate support in place  
  • If applicable, make repayments of any former debts to a social housing provider  

Please note that additional eligibility criteria may apply for properties under specialist housing programs or arrangements.  

To read more on social housing eligibility please click here 

Please note that once you are approved for social housing your name will be listed on the NSW Housing register.  An offer of  housing will be made when a suitable property becomes available and your turn to be housed is reached.   

The NSW Department of Communities and Justice release updated information on the expected social housing wait times for general applications. 

This information gives general applicants an idea of how long they might need to wait for a social housing property in specific areas of NSW.  

To find out more information on expected waiting times please click here. 

The time that an applicant waits for social housing depends on: 

  • the number of suitable vacancies that occur and how many social housing properties are in the allocation zone 
  • the number of approved applicants looking for the same type of property in their allocation zone 
  • whether applicants will accept offers of public housing, community housing or Aboriginal housing (for eligible applicants) 
  • the number of people approved for priority housing who are placed on the list above people who do not have a priority need 

For more information please visit the Housing Pathways website.

An allocation zone is a group of areas or towns where social housing is available. There are 246 allocation zones across NSW. 

Some allocation zones are called “high demand” zones because the demand for housing in these zones is greater than the number of properties that become available. If you select a high demand zone, you may be asked to select another zone that has shorter waiting times.  

To assist you with choosing your allocation zone you can use the Allocation Zone Locator tool 

In NSW social housing properties are managed by the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ Housing), the Aboriginal Housing Office, and Community housing organizations. Generally all social housing properties are managed under the provisions of Housing Pathways. 

To find a housing office nearest to you please click here

If you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, please contact Link2home on 1800 152 152. 

Link2home is the statewide homelessness information and referral telephone service.  It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. 

For information, assessment or referral to homeless services and support in NSW, call Link2home. 

For further information please click here 

There are different housing options which include short, medium and long term accommodation depending on your current needs and eligibility.  These housing options may include transitional/ supported housing, social housing, affordable housing, and private rental market housing.  

Each housing option will have their own eligibility criteria, and because the programs are often managed by the individual housing providers, enquiries should be made directly with the housing provider of interest.  

  • Transitional housing can be short to medium term subsidised rental housing (generally from three to eighteen months) for eligible people experiencing homelessness or those at risk. Transitional Housing is normally accessed only through the direct housing provider, or by a nomination made by a Specialist Homelessness Service (SHS).  There is no waiting list for these accommodation.  
  • Social housing is secure and affordable rental housing for people on low incomes with housing needs.  It includes public, community and Aboriginal housing. There is a long waiting list for these accommodation.  For more information please click here. 
  • Affordable housing is private market housing that meets the needs of people on very low to moderate incomes and is priced so that they can afford other basic living costs. There is normally no waiting list for these accommodation.  For more information please click here. To find out more about Evolve Housing’s Affordable housing program please visit the EchoRealty website. 
  • Private rental market housing is generally the most common type of housing in NSW. These properties are normally managed by the private landlord or their real estate agent, and prices are based on market supply and demand. Properties are generally let on an application basis, are often advertised on the major real estate websites such as www.domain.com.au or www.realestate.com.au.  

It has been recognized that establishing a tenancy in the private rental market can be difficult.  

A range of private rental assistance products and services are available which can help clients to set up or maintain a tenancy in the private sector, pay urgent housing relate costs like rent arrears, move from public housing to private rental accommodation. For more information please click here. 

For further information or assessment of these products please contact the DCJ Housing Contact Centre on 1800 422 322 or enquire through your local Housing office.

For further information regarding social housing and other housing options please contact us on 1800 693 865 or by emailing myevolve@evolvehousing.com.au. 

You may also telephone the DCJ Housing Contact Centre on 1800 422 322 for assistance.  

For more information

Visit www.housingpathways.nsw.gov.au or phone 1800 422 322 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)

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