EMERGENCY HOUSING POLICY

Emergency housing is unfurnished accommodation for applicants who have no other immediate housing options available but public rental housing. If Homeswest has available vacant accommodation, it is short-term accommodation to allow the tenant to resolve their situation and to make alternative housing arrangements. Emergency housing is not regarded as a long term housing option.

Eligibility

1. Any applicant eligible for Homeswest accommodation is eligible for emergency housing assistance.

1.1 See ELIGIBILITY POLICY.

1.2 Discretion may be exercised by the Manager Customer Service or eligible for assistance.

Example

An applicant who is an owner or joint owner of property.

Further Assistance

2. Homeswest reserves the rights to refuse assistance or place conditions upon further assistance to any applicant or tenant with substantiated breaches of the tenancy agreement or RTA.

2.1 Any customer refused further assistance on such grounds must be advised of their right to appeal to Homeswest Appeals Mechanism.
2.2 Where Homeswest decides to assist with further assistance to an applicant with substantiated breaches, support will be arranged to assist security of tenure.
2.3 Examples of conditions that might be placed subject to assistance or further assistance:

the tenant/applicant agrees to use SHAP
the tenant/applicant agrees to use direct deduction for rental payments or a bill paying service
the tenant/applicant agrees to restrictions upon household composition
The tenant/applicant agrees to conditions re the sale of private property.

Other Housing Options 3. Applicants must be interviewed to ascertain their circumstances and to evaluate other housing options.	3.1 Other housing options: crisis accommodation bond assistance priority assistance sharing with friends or relatives 3.2 Regions will keep a current list of welfare agencies in order to assist the applicant with relevant information and will contact these agencies on behalf of the applicant, if necessary.
4. Applicants with no other viable housing options may be offered emergency housing, if vacant accommodation is available.	4.1 Examples An applicant not eligible for crisis accommodation. No crisis accommodation available at the time. Medical – immediate assistance for country person with family requiring emergency treatment in Perth. Home destroyed by fire.
Time Frame for Assistance 5. Assistance must be provided as a matter of urgency when an applicant is approved for emergency housing assistance.

Duration of Emergency Housing Lease 6. Applicants will be given a three-month lease only.	6.1 Under the Residential Tenancies Act, a lease not reviewed at expiration may be deemed to be renewed by neglect. Therefore, the applicant’s personal file must be placed in “bring up” in order to review/renew the lease a month prior to expiration. 6.2 At the time of initially signing the tenancy agreement, the tenant is to be given a letter outlining Homeswest’s expectations during the term of the agreement and also clearly stating the (fixed) term of the tenancy. This letter will emphasise that any further tenancy is entirely dependent upon the tenant’s performance during the initial three month fixed term tenancy. 6.3 Their Accommodation Manager will monitor all tenants subject to a fixed term tenancy on a fortnightly basis. 6.4 At the end of the second month of the fixed term tenancy the tenant will be given a definitive, written indication of their future housing options within Homeswest. This should be unambiguous and clearly reflect Homeswest’s position that (a) the tenancy will end at the end of the fixed term and no further assistance can be expected from Homeswest or (b) the tenancy will be extended for a specified period under the same conditions or (c) the tenancy will revert to a standard periodical tenancy at the end of the fixed term or (d) Homeswest will list the tenant for a transfer to a property under a periodical tenancy model. A new tenancy agreement will be required in options b, c or d.
Homeswest Expectations of Tenant 7. During the three-month lease the applicant is expected to make alternative accommodation requirements.
Allocation to an Emergency Housing Applicant 8. An allocation to an emergency housing applicant must meet the immediate housing need of the applicant.

Decline of an Offer of Emergency Housing Accommodation 9. An applicant refusing an offer of emergency housing without a valid reason will not be made a further offer of emergency housing accommodation.	9.1 See definition of a valid offer of accommodation. (See Allocations policy 8 to 9.5.)
Applicants With a Debt to Homeswest 10. Applicants with a debt to Homeswest must enter into a proposal to repay the debt while in occupation and to pay rent by direct deduction as a condition of tenancy.
Appeal Rights 11. Applicants/tenants of emergency housing properties have the same appeal rights as do all Homeswest applicants and tenants and must be advised of these rights.	11.1 See Section relating to HOMESWEST APPEALS MECHANISM.
Officer Responsible for Decision Making 12. The officer with the responsibility for determining decisions relating to emergency housing is the Manager Customer Service (metropolitan) or Assistant Regional Manager (country) in the region concerned.
Rental Payments 13. Applicants for emergency housing are entitled to a rental subsidy upon allocation, if eligible.	13.1 See RENT TO INCOME POLICY.