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1.1 Allocation
1.1.1 Policy
The purpose of Bridge Housing Need Assessment and Allocation Process is to provide information on:
- Which households we assist
- How we determine which households are in greatest need based on our need based housing assessment point system
- What information/evidence Bridge Housing requires to determine eligibility and priority for housing assistance
- How we manage and process applications we receive for housing assistance
General Principles
- Ensure equitable access to all interested people seeking community housing provision
- Ensure individual rights will not be discriminated against on the grounds of ethnicity, gender, marital status, physical or intellectual disabilities, and sexual preference as per the Anti-Discrimination Act
- To maintain a fair need-based assessment process and non-judgemental attitude to all applicants
- To provide an open and transparent application process
- Application forms and assistance will be provided to all interested people
- Allow Bridge Housing to distribute scarce housing resource more equitably
- Ensure that Bridge Housing can work closely with support services to have a more holistic approach addressing issues related to the applicants.
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1.1.2 Procedure
1.1.2.1 Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants can be grouped under following categories:
- Applicants for general housing
- Housing New South Wales nominated applicants
- Support partners nominated applicants
- Affordable Housing Program applicants.
Applicants for General Housing
Bridge Housing will make available to the public, especially relevant organisations in the local community; applicant information packages including application forms outlining relevant policies and assistance available through Bridge Housing. All staff will use the Telephone Interpreter Service to assist applicants who require an interpreter.
Applicants must be eligible for Housing New South Wales (Housing NSW) and have a 'T' number before an assessment can take place. Applicants should refer to the relevant Housing NSW Policy by going to www.housing.nsw.gov.au - A copy is included in the Application Information Package.
A team of two Manager Housing Services /Housing Manager will make a decision on eligibility based on Bridge Housing's need-based housing assessment point system.
Tenants requesting transfer will be assessed on the same basis.
Housing New South Wales (Housing NSW) Nominated Applicants
Under a joint venture between Bridge Housing and Housing New South Wales, Bridge Housing manages properties transferred from Housing NSW or new community housing stock constructed from public housing sites. These joint ventures allow Housing NSW to nominate potential tenants. Details can be referred to in the Business Rules and Protocols developed by Housing New South Wales.
Support Partners Nominated Applicants
Bridge Housing has taken an active role in housing people who are only able to sustain a tenancy where support is provided in partnerships with support agencies. These partnerships are defined by a Service Agreement between Bridge Housing and the support service. Support services nominate potential tenants who are linked with support. These applicants must be eligible for housing with Housing New South Wales. Details can be referred to in the service agreements signed between Bridge Housing and support services.
Affordable Housing Programs Applicants
Bridge Housing manages two affordable housing programs - Social Housing Subsidy Program (SHSP) and Waverley Affordable Housing Program (WAHP). These are part or wholly targeted to households on low and moderate incomes who are not eligible for public housing. Each has eligibility criteria. Staff and applicants must refer to the respective affordable housing program guidelines.
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1.1.2.2 Bridge Housing Need Point System
Bridge Housing has developed a point system for ranking and prioritising applicants for housing. Each applicant is assessed on the completed application form and evidence submitted to support the claim for housing assistance.
Applicants will be reassessed whenever new information is provided to Bridge Housing. The point score will be used to assist the decision to change the applicant status.
The point system will be reviewed at least biannually to ensure the organisational aims are being met. Whenever the point system is revised, all existing eligible applicants will be reassessed.
Bridge Housing will prioritise eligible applications for housing on the basis of need in a fair, equitable and consistent way. Applications will be ranked according to their assessed housing need.
Each applicant will receive assessment points on six (6) categories of housing need, social disadvantage and access to other options:
- Housing circumstance
- Health/disability
- Violence, abuse, harassment
- Age
- Specific target groups
- Other criteria.
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1.1.2.3 Assessment Criteria and Points
Each of the above six categories can achieve a maximum of 10 points for a total of sixty points. An overview of the housing need categories is at Table 1 - Housing Need Category and Point System. Table 2 provides information on definitions for the housing need categories and evidence required for Bridge Housing to assess the applicants claim for housing assistance.
Applicants, advocates and support agencies are advised to read this information as it will ensure that Bridge Housing can effectively assess applications for housing assistance.
All applicants will be placed on the waiting list according to their ranking level and date of application with Bridge Housing.
Table 1 Housing Need Category and Points System
|
Client Name:
|
|
Client Number:
|
|
| Category |
Description |
Circumstances |
Pts |
Tot |
|
Housing Circumstances (A)
|
Homelessness
|
In medium term housing and exit point in 2 years
|
3
|
|
|
In medium term housing and exit point in 1-2 years
|
3
|
|
|
In medium term or crisis housing and exit point is 6-12 months
|
3
|
|
|
In medium term or crisis housing and exit point is 6-12 months
|
6
|
|
|
Unstable and inappropriate
accommodation
|
Living with family or friends who cannot provide long term accommodation
|
3
|
|
|
Divided family eg. applicant who is living separately from their children or partners, custody issues, state wards
|
6
|
|
|
Substandard property conditions
|
3
|
|
|
Severe Overcrowding
|
6
|
|
|
Health and Disability
(B)
|
How this impacts on housing:
Issues which affect ability to keep or obtain housing
|
Has independent living skills but requires ongoing support and care. Must have case plan in place
|
6
|
|
|
Needs modified property that can’t be satisfied from own resources.
|
3
|
|
|
Survivors of torture and trauma (require long term case planning/counselling only by STARTTS)
|
10
|
|
|
Moderate to serious physical disability which affects their ability to keep or obtain housing.
Mild 3 Mod 6 Severe 10
|
3-10
|
|
|
Moderate to serious intellectual disability which affects their ability to keep or obtain housing
Mild 3 Mod 6 Severe 10
|
6-10
|
|
|
Moderate to serious intellectual disability which affects their ability to keep or obtain housing
Mild 3 Mod 6 Severe 10
|
6
|
|
|
Terminal illness and limited life expectancy
|
10
|
|
|
Documented evidence of drug and/or alcohol problem
|
6
|
|
|
Age (C)
|
|
Elderly 80 plus (Accelerated Progression)
|
10
|
|
|
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (ATSI) Single/Couple 55 plus
|
10
|
|
|
Single/couple 60 plus
|
6
|
|
|
ATSI Single/Couple 45 plus
|
6
|
|
|
Violence (D)
|
|
Domestic Violence
|
10
|
|
|
Sexual Assault
|
10
|
|
|
Child Abuse
|
10
|
|
|
Racial/Sexual Harassment
|
3
|
|
|
Specific Target Groups (E)
|
Youth
|
Youth less than 21
|
6
|
|
|
Youth more than 21
|
3
|
|
|
Refugees
|
Recent refugees
|
10
|
|
|
ATSI
|
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders(ATSI)
|
6
|
|
|
Ex-offenders
|
Have served a gaol term
|
6
|
|
|
Other criteria (F)
|
Income
|
Paying more than 30% of gross income-go to affordability calculator
|
3
|
|
|
Paying more than 50% of gross income
|
3
|
|
|
Social security sole household income
|
6
|
|
|
Other
|
Culturally and Linguistically Different(CALD)
|
3
|
|
|
Total ( A+B+C+D+E+F)
|
|
|
Over 80s Applicants
Applicants who are over 80 years of age receive accelerated progression of their applications.
Where there are other household members included on an elderly client's application (other than the elderly person's partner) they will be eligible for this accelerated progression provided that:
- The elderly person is totally dependent on the other members of the household for 24 hour care, and
- They provide documentation from a doctor or the other health professional to support the application.
Information on Applicants
Bridge Housing eligibility listing will be monitored from time to time to ensure that staff are adhering to the point procedure.
Statistical profiles on applicants will be complied to inform the annual planning process and included in the Annual Report.
Updating Applicant Information
Applicants are encouraged to provide Bridge Housing with relevant documentation when their circumstances change. Reassessment will then be done by a team of two Housing Managers if their circumstances have changed.
Bridge Housing will update the waiting list on an annual basis. Applicants will be sent a letter with an update form. If the applicant fails to return the update form or reply within 14 days, their application will be Withdrawn. A system is in place to ensure applicants who keep us informed within a 12-month period will be excluded.
Conflict of Interest
Workers and Directors are required to declare in writing any relationship that they may have with any applicant (such as family ties, marriage, client, etc.) if they intend to advocate on behalf of the applicants.
When an applicant reveals a relationship with a worker or Director, the Executive Officer (EO) will be involved in the application process. The worker having the relationship with the applicant will step aside. The EO will report on relevant decisions made at Board meetings.
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Table 2 Evidence Required for Housing Need Category
|
Client Name:
|
Client Number:
|
| Category |
Description |
Specific Circumstances |
Evidence |
|
Housing Circumstances
|
Homelessness
|
In medium term housing and exit point in 2 years
|
Letter signed by manager from crisis or medium term accommodation provider
|
|
In medium term housing and exit point in 1-2 years
|
Letter signed by manager from crisis or medium term accommodation provider
|
|
In medium term or crisis housing and exit point is 6-12 months
For applicants exiting refuge accommodation, they need to demonstrate their ability to live independently. If they are unable to live independently they need to continue to access support arrangements or be referred to support services
|
Letter signed by manager from crisis or medium term accommodation provider
|
|
In medium term or crisis housing and exit point is 6-12 months
For applicants exiting refuge accommodation, they need to demonstrate their ability to live independently. If they are unable to live independently they need to continue to access support arrangements or be referred to support services
|
Letter signed by manager from crisis or medium term accommodation provider
|
|
Unstable and inappropriate
accommodation
|
Living with family or friends who cannot provide long term accommodation
|
Letter from lessor or owner of property. Must provide copy of lease or title
|
|
Divided family: where child is ward of state until parents have secure accommodation. Applicants who are living separately from their children or partners, custody issues, state wards
|
Letter from Department of Community services or agency providing custody services.
Legal documents for custody from Family Court, Lease
|
|
Divided Family: where child is living with one parent
|
Legal documents for custody from the Family Court
Lease, letter from landlord
|
|
Substandard property conditions
Definition
Substandard means extreme damp, dangerous or unhealthy conditions Lacking essential facilities such as water, electricity, a bathroom or kitchen
|
Photographs of the property
Property Condition report
Copies of advice from tenancy advocacy services
Letters from support workers
|
Overcrowding (Definition) Severe overcrowding occurs when:
- an adult or couple is sharing a bedroom with a child three years or over
- 3 or more children sharing a bedroom
- 2 or more unrelated adults sharing a bedroom
Severe overcrowding can also occur where people currently sharing a bedroom require their own bedroom because of a specific need. This could include:
- Disability or special medical needs
Severe behavioural problems or children of different sexes sharing a room where one of them reaches 10 years of age. |
Current lease agreement if renting privately Statutory declaration if living with family or friends AND Centrelink statement showing household members Birth Certificate(s) from NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages www.bdm.nsw.gov.au Medical reports, Letter from support service |
|
Health and Disability
|
How this impacts on housing:
Issues which affect ability to keep or obtain housing
|
Has independent living skills but requires ongoing support and care. Must have case plan in place
|
Letter from support provider and support providers ability to provide support into the future
|
|
Needs modified property that can’t be satisfied from own resources.
Need for modification
If an applicant demonstrates a need for a modified property you need to determine the level of modifications required. If low level modifications required see if they are eligible for modifications through Home and Community Care (HACC) services. Under the home modification scheme, private renters can apply for assistance providing they have first gained permission to modify the property from their landlords
|
|
|
|
Report from treating Psychiatrist
Letter from Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors
|
Moderate to serious physical disability which affects their ability to keep or obtain housing. Mild 3 Mod 6 Severe 10 Note Applicants, who have demonstrated a severe and on-going medical condition or disability, must also demonstrate how their current housing is inappropriate and the ways in which it is having a negative affect on their health and wellbeing. To determine this staff need to consider the following:
- the severity of the person's condition and whether the medical condition is permanent or likely to be permanent
- the mobility of the person affected
- the impact of the current dwelling and/or location on the person's health or wellbeing
- how often the person needs to visit medical services or specialists
Whether the applicant has a carer or a need for a car and how easily, the person can travel to these services If, and how easily these services can be accessed in other areas. Any other circumstances that may be relevant |
Receipt of disability support pension
Report from Occupational Therapist
Report from Doctor
|
|
Moderate to serious intellectual disability which affects their ability to keep or obtain housing
Mild 3 Mod 6 Severe 10
|
Receipt of disability support pension
Report from Occupational Therapist
Report from Doctor
Report from support agency outlining level of support
|
|
Moderate to serious intellectual disability which affects their ability to keep or obtain housing
Mild 3 Mod 6 Severe 10
|
Letter from Mental Health Support Team
Report from support agency outlining level of support provision of ongoing support and case plan
|
|
Terminal illness and limited life expectancy
|
Medical Report
|
|
Documented evidence of drug and/or alcohol problem
|
Medical Report
Report from Drug and Alcohol agency
|
|
Age
|
|
Elderly 80 plus (Accelerated Progression)
|
Centrelink Payment record or Birth Certificate eg from NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages www.bdm.nsw.gov.au |
|
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (ATSI) Single/Couple 55 plus
|
Centrelink Payment record and / or Signed copy of Housing New South Wales, Aboriginal Housing Office Declaration Birth Certificate eg from NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages www.bdm.nsw.gov.au |
|
Single/couple 60 plus
|
Centrelink Payment record or Birth Certificate from NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages www.bdm.nsw.gov.au |
|
ATSI Single/Couple 45 plus
|
Centrelink Payment record and / or Signed copy of Housing New South Wales, Aboriginal Housing Office Declaration. Birth Certificate from NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages www.bdm.nsw.gov.au |
|
Violence
|
|
Domestic Violence
|
Police Report Current enforceable Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) Report from Women's Legal Service NSW www.womenslegalnsw.asn.au Report from Support service |
|
Sexual Assault
|
Police Reports/ Verification
Report from Counselling Service (health professional social worker, community
support worker
Medical Assessment from a doctor
|
|
Child Abuse
|
Letter from Department of Community Services.
Letter from Support Agency
|
|
Racial/Sexual Harassment
|
Current enforceable Apprehended Violence Order (AVO)
Police Report letter/reports from support worker, advocate/Statutory Declaration
|
|
Specific Target Groups
|
Youth
|
Youth less than 21
|
Centrelink Payment record Birth Certificate(s) from NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages www.bdm.nsw.gov.au |
|
Youth more than 21
|
As above
|
|
Refugees
|
Recent refugees
|
Immigration/Refugee documents
Passports
|
|
ATSI
|
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders(ATSI)
|
Signed copy of Housing New South Wales or
Aboriginal Housing Office Declaration
|
|
Ex-offenders
|
Have served a goal term
|
Letter from support agency
Release papers from Department of Corrective Services
|
|
Other criteria
|
Income
|
Paying more than 30% of gross income-go to affordability calculator
|
Centre link income statements
Lease Rent receipts
|
|
Paying more than 50% of gross income
|
Centrelink income statements
Lease
Rent receipts
|
|
Social security sole household income
|
Centrelink income statements
|
|
Other
|
Culturally and Linguistically Different(CALD)
|
Passports, immigrations documents
|
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1.1.2.4 Procedure for Administering Applications and Determining Points
Before the Application Lodgement
- If the original enquiry is by phone or in person, it is appropriate to ask a few questions to ensure the potential applicant is not clearly ineligible, before asking them to fill in a form. For example if the interested person is living in a public housing stock or in community housing, the person is ineligible.
- Options other than the application with Bridge Housing may be considered. For example, housing assistance by Housing New South Wales or a refuge may be an appropriate referral for those who are homeless.
Application
- People applying for housing with Bridge Housing must complete the Application Form and provide all relevant supporting documentation before their application is entered onto the Tenant Management System (TMS). Applicants will be assisted with completing the Application Form if required. Applicants will be provided with a copy of the completed form if requested.
- If the application form or supporting documentation is incomplete the Housing Support Officer will send a standard letter within 4 – 6 weeks of receiving the application, asking for further information. The application will not be entered into TMS until the Application Form and supporting documentation is provided by the applicant. The Housing Support Officer may follow up with the applicant. Assistance with interpreting will be provided through the Telephone Interpreter Service.
- The Application Form and applicant information package is available from the Bridge Housing office or by fax, e-mail, or down loading it from the website www.bridgehousing.org.au
- When a complete application is returned to Bridge Housing the front cover of the Application Form will be date stamped by the Housing Support Officer who will also check that the necessary documentation is attached and completed.
- Interviews will be arranged for applicants who would like to explain their needs and discuss their options further or where Bridge Housing believes that this will assist the application process.
- All relevant information will then be entered into the Tenant Management System. In the Tenant Management System, the status of applicant will be marked as 0 = unassessed.
- The application will be given a client reference number then filed in ascending order based on this number.
- Completed applications will be confirmed by a standard letter of acknowledgement to be sent within 7 days.
- The Application Form and supporting documents will be passed on to the roster Housing Manager to initiate the assessment. Interviews by phone or a face-to-face interview will be arranged if necessary.
- A team of Manager Housing Services/Duty Housing Manager will assess the application. The Bridge Housing Assessment Form (Appendix A) will be used to assess the priority of the applicant. The assessors are to sign the Bridge Housing Assessment Form. Relevant remarks will be entered onto the applicant's notes in TMS.
- After the file is returned to the Housing Support Officer, a standard notification letter will be sent will to the applicant within 4 – 6 weeks. These notification letters are sent to newly assessed applicants on a monthly basis.
- All applicants are encouraged to inform Bridge Housing whenever they have changed circumstances which will effect their eligibility or housing need and provide relevant documentation. Re-assessment will then be conducted as per the standard procedures.
- Applicants can appeal about eligibility or their priority on the waiting list through the Bridge Housing Appeals and Complaints Policy. For further information refer to
- Appeals and Complaints Policy Appeals and Complaints Policy of the Bridge Housing Policy and Procedures Manual or
- Request a copy of the Appeals and Complaints Policy from the Bridge Housing office
- Bridge Housing undertakes annual reviews of the waiting list to ensure its currency. All applicants will be sent a standard letter requesting update. The update form contains the basic information related to the application. If there is no change of circumstances, the applicant must sign off and return the slip back to Bridge Housing to keep their application active. If new documents are provided a reassessment will be activated.
- If eligible applicants do not return the reply slips within 14 days, their applications will be withdrawn and removed from the waiting list. Applicants removed from the waiting list will be sent a letter informing them that they have been removed. Applicants can appeal against their removal from the waiting list through Bridge Housing's Appeals and Complaints Policy.
- Information on withdrawn applicants will be stored with their application form and in the Tenant Management System for the statutory seven year period - following which they will be destroyed and all relevant electronic data will be deleted.
- Applicants will be interviewed by a Housing Manager/ Manager Housing Services prior to being housed. The interview may be conducted via telephone. Relevant documents and income statements at that time will be requested. An interpreting service will be arranged if needed.
- Applicants can discuss their application at any time with the roster Housing Manager during the assessment period.
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1.1.2.5 Appealing Decisions
If a client believes that Bridge Housing made the wrong decision they should ask for a formal review of the decision. To do this a client needs to complete an Appeals Form stating why they disagree with the decision. The Appeals Form and copy of Bridge Housing’s Appeals and Complaints Policy is available from Bridge Housing’s office or they can be downloaded from our website www.bridgehousing.org.au.
If a client is unhappy with the outcome of an appeal to Bridge Housing they can lodge a second level appeal with the Housing Appeals Committee. The Housing Appeals Committee is an independent agency that reviews certain decisions made by staff of Community Housing organisations and Housing New South Wales. For information on the Housing Appeals Committee call 1800 629 794 or go to www.hac.nsw.gov.au.
Applicants can appeal about the following Bridge Housing decisions:
- Waiting List
- General eligibility
- Removal from waiting list
- Backdating of eligibility on waiting list
- Eligibility of people classified as former unsatisfactory tenants
- Locational or housing type needs
- Priority Housing
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Bridge Housing Policy and Procedures Manual: Allocation Revisions
|
Document Title
|
Allocation Policy and Housing Needs Assessment
|
Approval Date
|
September 2007
|
|
Approval Authority
|
Bridge Housing Board
|
Effective Date
|
October 2007
|
| |
|
Review Date
|
October 2009
|
|
Administrator
|
Executive Officer
|
|
|
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