Eligibility for social housing

To ensure that social housing assists clients who are most in need, the eligibility criteria for social housing concentrates on assisting:

• clients on low income that need support to help them live independently, and
• clients on low income that have problems finding affordable housing in the private market that is suited to their needs.

Participating social housing providers will assess eligibility and priority for clients seeking social housing. All participating providers will accept the outcome of this assessment. When an assessment is complete, the provider will notify the client in writing of the outcome of the assessment.

To be eligible for social housing, clients must:

• be a citizen or have permanent residency in Australia, and
• be resident in New South Wales (NSW), and
• establish their identity, and
• have a household income within the income eligibility limits, and
• not own any assets or property which could reasonably be expected to resolve their housing need, and
• be able to sustain a tenancy, without support or with appropriate support in place, and
• if applicable, make repayments of any former debts to a social housing provider, and
• in general, be at least 18 years of age.

For more information on social housing eligibility, see the Eligibility for Social Housing policy.