Public Housing
Public Housing is homes owned and managed by the State Government, that are rented out to people with low incomes to have an affordable place to live. Public Housing comes in all shapes and sizes. There are large towers in housing estates, there are also smaller groups of apartments, as well as free standing houses.…
Community Housing
Community housing is housing that is owned by not-for-profit organisations. Community housing is often modern apartments, some are in high rise developments, or medium density housing. Community housing can also vary in the way that it is managed. Some housing is managed by big organisations that own a lot of houses, others by small organisations.…
Housing Cooperatives
Housing Cooperatives are similar to Community Housng providers. They also provide secure and affordable housing to people with low incomes. The difference is the tenants are also members of the cooperative, have a say in the running of the organisation, and the maintenance of their houses. Housing cooperatives can also be hard to find and…
Affordable Housing
Unlike Public & Community Housing, where rent is defined as a percentage of your income, affordable housing usually sets the rent as a percentage of the normal market rent. Property developers and State Governments can define ‘affordable housing’ to mean different things. That’s why HAAG is campaigning for a nationally legislated definition of affordable housing.…
Movable Units (Granny Flats)
The affectionately named Granny Flat is a small, separate house out the back of another larger house, like a bungalow. They are often used by families who want to live close by their older relatives or teenage children. If you don’t have a Granny Flat, but you do have a friend or relative with a…
Independent Living Units
Not-for-profit retirement villages are also known as Independent Living Units (ILUs). Most of them are one-bedroom units which are self-contained, with a bathroom, toilet and kitchen, so you can live independently. There are few ILUs remaining in Victoria, managed by many different not-for-profit organisations. Eligibility for Independent Living Units is as varied as the number…
Abbeyfield Retirement Houses
Abbeyfield is a Not-For-Profit organisation that has a unique type of housing for older people. They are designed to help people stay independent and active in their community, whilst providing some day to day living support. There are ten people living in each Abbeyfield house, and everyone has their own room with an en-suite and…
Retirement Villages
Retirement villages are run by for-profit and not-for-profit companies and vary greatly in what they offer residents, their cost and the conditions laid out in individual contracts. A Retirement Village is defined by law as a place where: Consumer Affairs Victoria has information on things to know before you choose to move into a Retirement…
Tiny Houses
“Tiny Houses” are very small houses, often built on trailers so as to be portable, much like a caravan. They have been associated with environmentalists who want to reduce the space and materials they use. They have also been suggested as an option for older people wanting to live in a small, self contained space.…
Caravan Parks
Some people think of caravan parks as a place to go on holiday, but for many people it is their permanent home. Often “Caravan Parks” aren’t really caravans, they are more permanent buildings, that you can’t just pack up and move. Sometimes parks like this may also be known as Residential Parks. Sometimes caravan parks…
Rental Villages
Rental Villages are clusters of units where people live in one-bedroom units with facilities such as a bar fridge and a microwave oven. People are usually cooked for three meals a day, and laundry and cleaning may also be included. Rental Villages can be run by for-profit companies or not-for-profit organisations. They can differ in…
Residential Parks
Residential Parks are also known as manufactured homes, lifestyle communities, land lease communities and Part 4A parks. They have evolved from caravan parks and cater specifically to older people. Residents buy their unit, and pay site fees to the owner of the land. Some have lots of facilities, similar to retirement villages. Many units are…
Supported Residential Services
Supported Residential Services (SRS) are places to live for people who need some support or assistance in everyday life. There are around 100 SRS in Victoria ranging from small facilities to larger facilities with up to 90 residents. SRS are privately operated services. They do not receive government funding but must be registered with the…
Private rental
Many people coming to this website may already be living in private rental. It comes in all shapes and sizes, from large houses to apartments or single rooms in share-houses. This can be great for those who can afford it. But even for people who are working it can be a struggle to pay the…
Share-Housing
One kind of private rental is sharehousing. People who are friends or have met on the internet join together to rent a house together. They might decide to start a new lease together. Or, somebody who already has a lease or owns a house decides to rent out rooms to other people. Share-housing is usually…
Rooming Houses
There are over 1000 registered rooming houses in Victoria. Residents generally have a single room and share facilities such as kitchen and bathroom. Well managed rooming houses may suit older people who like a semi-furnished home with little upkeep required. Rooming houses range from well-run premises owned by not-for-profit organisations to dodgy rooms let by…
Emergency housing
All of the above options can take a long time to organise and access. If you don’t have a safe place to live while you are looking for a permanent place to live it can be very difficult. Crisis Accommodation services might be able to help you if you are in this situation. They might be able to find a rooming house or hotel for you to live, and refer you to other organisations that are there to help. There are many people needing crisis accommodation, though, so the support they provide can be limited.
If you don’t have a safe place to live, are homeless, or at risk of being homeless, call 1800 825 955 or visit services.dhhs.vic.gov.au/crisis-accommodation.
For advice and assistance with contacting an emergency housing service you can call us on 1300 765 178.