Housing Types
The Women’s Housing Company provides accommodation to eligible women across the housing continuum, including crisis accommodation, transitional housing, social housing and affordable housing.
Crisis Accommodation is short term housing (generally up to three months) for people who are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless, and are in crisis. This type of housing is provided in conjunction with Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) to assist with alleviating crisis situations and to help identify suitable longer term accommodation.
- For Crisis Accommodation assistance in South Western Sydney, see the Women's Housing Company Homelessness Support Services.
- For Crisis Accommodation assistance in other areas of Sydney and across NSW, call Link2home on 1800 152 152.
Transitional Housing is 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 accessed only through a nomination made by a Specialist Homelessness Service (SHS).
Housing First is an approach that offers permanent, affordable housing as quickly as possible for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, in conjunction with supportive services and connections to the community-based supports people need to sustain their housing and avoid returning to homelessness. The Women's Housing Company is a key partner with the Department Communities and Justice (DCJ) to deliver the Connect 100 program to provide rapid supported housing to homeless women identified in Inner City Sydney. Through partnerships with SHS providers, assertive outreach support is provided to assist our Connect 100 tenants to sustain successful tenancies.
Social Housing is subsidised rental housing for eligible people on
very low to moderate incomes who are unable to access suitable accommodation in
the private market. Social Housing is accessed via Housing Pathways (see link below),
Affordable Housing is subsidised rental housing for eligible people in the workforce earning very low to moderate incomes who are unable to access suitable accommodation in the private market. This housing type is designed to bridge the gap between Social Housing and the private housing market, and specifically to relieve housing stress of key workers who may not earn enough to secure suitable housing near the area where they work.
Transitional Housing
Transitional Housing is short to medium term subsidised rental housing (generally from three to eighteen months) for eligible people experiencing homelessness or those at risk of homelessness. This type of housing is provided in conjunction with case management support provided by Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) to assist in stabilising circumstances before moving to longer term housing. In most cases, transitional housing tenants are eligible for a rent subsidy which means their rent is set at 25% of their gross household income plus 100% of the Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA).
The Women’s Housing Company provides tenancy and property management services in partnership with Specialist Homelessness Service partners, including:
- Flourish Australia (for women with children in Western Sydney)
- Jenny's Place (for women with children in Newcastle)
- Launchpad Youth Community (for young parents in the Inner West)
- Nova for Women and Children (for women and children in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie)
- Wesley Mission (for single women in Sydney and South East Sydney)
- Women and Girl's Emergency Centre - WAGEC (for women and children in the Inner West)
- Women's Homelessness Support Services (for single women in South Western Sydney)
- YWCA (for single women in Inner City Sydney)
To access transitional housing, applicants must first contact an SHS provider to be assessed for eligibility under the specific SHS program criteria. SHS staff conduct an initial assessment and may nominate their client for transitional housing.
When a vacancy becomes available, we will liaise with SHS providers to make an offer of transitional housing to a nominated client, based on priority of housing need and suitability of the available property to the nominated client’s housing requirements.
To find out more about Transitional Housing, click here for our policy.
Transitional Housing Plus - DV Housing is medium term subsidised rental housing (generally from six months to five years) for women with dependent children experiencing domestic and family violence and experiencing or at risk of homelessness. This type of housing is provided in conjunction with specialist support services to assist stabilising circumstances and facilitating education, training and employment pathways to ensure capability to exit into private market housing. Rent is scaled up over a five year period so that it reaches a benchmark market rate by the last year of support.
The Women's Housing Company provides tenancy and property management services in partnership with specialist support service providers including:
- Jenny's Place (Newcastle)
- Nova for Women and Children (Newcastle and Lake Macquarie)
- Warrina Domestic & Family Violence Specialist Services (Coffs Harbour)
To access transitional housing plus, applicants must first contact a participating support service to be assessed for eligibility. Support service staff conduct an initial assessment and may nominate their client for transitional housing plus.
When a vacancy becomes available, we will liaise with support providers to make an offer of transitional housing plus to a nominated client based on the recommendation of the local Nomination Panel.
To find out more about Transitional Housing Plus - DV Housing, click here for our policy.
Social Housing
Social Housing is subsidised rental housing for eligible people on very low to moderate incomes who are unable to access suitable accommodation in the private market. In most cases, social housing tenants are eligible for a rent subsidy which means their rent is set at 25% of their gross household income plus 100% of the Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA).
The Women’s Housing Company manages applications and housing offers in accordance with Housing Pathways, the NSW Government’s single housing application system for people seeking social housing assistance.
Applications can be made online or by calling the Housing Contact Centre on 1800 422 322. Alternatively, you can contact the Women’s Housing Company Access Team on 9281 1764 or Contact@womenshousingcompany.org to discuss your situation and seek assistance with the application process. Once assessed against the eligibility criteria, approved applications are put on the NSW Housing Register.
When a vacancy becomes available, we will make an offer from the NSW Housing Register, based on priority of housing need, date of application and the suitability of the available property to the applicant’s housing requirements.
For information on eligibility criteria, expected waiting times and other housing assistance options, click the link below.
Affordable Housing
Affordable Housing is subsidised rental housing for eligible people in the workforce earning very low to moderate incomes who are unable to access suitable accommodation in the private market. This housing type is designed to bridge the gap between Social Housing and the private housing market, and specifically to relieve housing stress of key workers who may not earn enough to secure suitable housing near the area where they work. Rent is set at no more than 30% of gross household income plus 100% of the Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA).
The Women’s Housing Company manages Affordable Housing in line with the NSW Affordable Housing Ministerial Guidelines, which sets out eligibility criteria and income limits for applicants.
When a vacancy becomes available, we advertise through a number of channels, including real estate websites and direct communication with employers of key workers in the areas local to our Affordable Housing properties.
Enquiries about Affordable Housing can be made by contacting us on 9281 1764 or Contact@womenshousingcompany.org