WAITING LIST MANAGEMENT POLICY

This section contains the policies and procedures for managing Homeswest waiting list of applicants needing housing assistance. Generally, applicants will be assisted according to the date of their application (i.e. the next client on the list is offered the next available suitable property), except where they are given priority assistance because of their urgent housing needs.

Listing

1. Applicants will be listed for assistance in order of date of lodgement.

2. An applicant’s listing date will be the date that the application was received and all documentation determined as correct.

2.1 Applications are acceptable whether presented in person or lodged by mail.

2.2 Applicant’s whose application is incorrect and/or does not have complete documentation, will not be regarded as having a listing date until all information is received and correct.

2.3 Incomplete or incorrect applications will be returned to the applicant with a request for the correct information, and not recorded by Homeswest.

2.4 Applicants with a debt - see Further Assistance Policy, Eligibility, Section 2.

2.5 All applicants will be contacted on an annual basis on the “anniversary” of their application date, to check application details. This is termed a “rolling” applicant review. Failure to respond to the review form will result in the application being withdrawn.

Zone/Country Town of Choice 3. Applicants may apply for one zone only in the Metropolitan area, or nominate the town of their choice if applying for the country.
Joint Applications 4. If joint applicants decide not to continue with joint application, both applicants may receive the benefit of the listing date.	4.1 This will mainly apply in the case of marital or relationship breakdown. 4.2 It may be necessary to re-establish eligibility due to changed circumstances.
Transfer of Application 5. An applicant may request that the application be transferred to another zone or region and keep the same listing date.	5.1 If an application is transferred from a zone or region of high demand to one of low demand where it may be past turn for assistance, this is no impediment. 5.2. Similarly, it is no impediment when transferring from a region or zone of low demand to one of high demand.
Withdrawn Applications 6. An applicant whose application has been withdrawn may appeal against the decision.	6.1 Applicant must be advised of the avenue of appeal available (see HOMESWEST APPEALS MECHANISM). 6.2 An enquiry must be made regarding any change of address recorded on the Bond Assistance Scheme (HAL) before rental application is withdrawn. This may require contact with Bonds officers if the information cannot be located on the general mainframe. 6.3 Examples of withdrawal of an application: Unclaimed mail No response to mail Leaving WA for longer than six months

Reinstatement of Applications

7. Applications which have been withdrawn may be reinstated due to an appeal by the applicant and will be given the benefit of the original listing date.

7.1 Whether an application is reinstated will depend upon the reason it was withdrawn.

7.2 Example of the reinstatement of an application:

mail incorrectly addressed
mail never received – the benefit of the doubt should be given when applicant claims that:
he/she has not changed address yet did not receive mail;
did change address and was receiving Bond Assistance and thought that details on the rental application would be updated.

Compassionate grounds which occurred at time mail was sent, which could have caused the applicant not to respond, e.g.

personal or family tragedy;
illness;
literacy or language problems.
frequent changes of address due to the need to find temporary accommodation.

Past Turn for Assistance

8. Applicants whose application passes the turn reached date for their zone or district of choice will not have their application withdrawn automatically. They will be made a valid offer of accommodation as soon as possible and if declined, their application will be withdrawn..

8.1 In considering reasons for re-instating applications past turn reached for assistance, all circumstances should be taken into account. If re-instated, the reason(s) should be briefly documented on the application file.

8.2 Applications which have been withdrawn for more than two years should generally not be re-instated. With rolling Applicant Surveys an Applicant can expect yearly written contact from Homeswest. Officers dealing with re-instatement requests will consider each request on its merits. Typical examples of reasons influencing re-instatement are given at 7.2 but should not be restricted to these alone.

9 Applicants who have their application re-instated and whose listing date is past turn reached for their nominated zone or district will be treated the same
Changes During the Waiting Period 10. Applicants must advise Homeswest of any change of circumstances while waiting for assistance.	10.1 E.g., Change of address, name, family size, transfer to different region, need for priority assistance. 10.2 Unclaimed mail or the failure to respond to mail will result in the application being withdrawn. 10.3 Changes of address may be notified by: a letter of advice from the applicant the completion of a change of address form from Homeswest by telephone (this should be acknowledged in writing) all such information received should include the old and new address.
11. Applicants who leave Western Australia for longer than six months are withdrawn.
Applicant with a Prior Debt to Homeswest 12. See Further Assistance Policy, Eligibility, Section 2.
Status of Application 13. A region will assess the status of an application as to whether it is wait-turn or priority.	13.1 In the case of an application being transferred, to another region the status remains unchanged. 13.2 Applicants will need to be advised of the lack of preferred accommodation in each region. 13.3 The region to which the applicant is transferring must be advised of any debt associated with the transferred application.