PolicyHousing Tasmania EligibilitySDMS ID Number P2012/0178-030SDMS Title Housing Tasmania Eligibility – Policy – P2012/0178-030Effective From 15 June 2015Applies to All Housing Tasmania clientsCustodian Manager Housing StrategySummary This policy outlines Housing Tasmania’s eligibility criteria to

access housing assistance with Housing TasmaniaReplaces Doc. No.Author Area Housing Strategy – Social and Affordable Housing Policy UnitContact Manager, Housing StrategyReview Date June 2018

Policy Purpose Housing Tasmania contributes to a socially just Tasmania through the provision of affordable quality housing services for Tasmanians in greatest need. The purpose of this policy is to outline the requirements for establishing the eligibility for housing assistance with Housing Tasmania. Establishing eligibility is step 1 in the 4 step process for housing assistance with Housing Tasmania, as per below:

Step 1: Establishing eligibility for Housing Tasmania (Housing Tasmania Eligibility Policy and Procedures)

Step 2: Establishing entitlement and level of housing need (General or Priority) (Housing Assessment Prioritisation System Policy and Procedures; Bedroom Entitlement Policy and Procedure; and Proof of Identity Policy)

Step 3: Allocation review to confirm application details have not changed from the assessment with Housing Connect, and to confirm the client’s income and assets are within the Housing Tasmania threshold for allocating properties. (Allocation Interview with Housing Tasmania Policy), and

Step 4: Allocating an appropriate property (Matching and Offering a Property to a Client Policy and Procedure).

Policy Intent Housing Connect will assess clients housing and support needs.The intent of this policy supports clients having the right to test their eligibility for safe, high quality, affordable housing assistance with Housing Tasmania. A client’s eligibility for Housing Tasmania properties is assessed against basic eligibility criteria.Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria for Housing Tasmania and at no time is a client guaranteed a property offer with Housing Tasmania.

Application This policy applies to applications at Housing Connect for clients seeking housing assistance with Housing Tasmania.

Housing Tasmania Eligibility

Housing Tasmania properties are limited resources and are allocated to people with the greatest housing need for their duration of need.. For clients to access housing assistance with Housing Tasmania, they must meet the eligibility criteria. Housing Tasmania eligibility is assessed against the following

Page 2 of 6

criteria: be a Tasmanian resident; be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident; be 16 years or older; be a low income earner eligible for a Commonwealth

Health Care Card; not have financial assets exceeding $35,000 per

household, and not own land or a home of your own.

For applicants who are unable to meet the Housing Tasmania eligibility criteria, their application will not be placed on the waitlist for housing assistance with Housing Tasmania.

Client Information To ensure the benefits and features of the property match the clients assessed need, applicants must provide accurate and current information. Application information can be up dated with Housing Connect.

Changes to a clients situation

Applicants must contact Housing Connect if there are any changes to circumstances. Having accurate and current information assists Housing Connect to be responsive to housing or support need in a timely way.Changes to an applicant’s situation may change their level of housing need or change the type of property they require. This may occur where household makeup or household circumstances have changed. For example a household member on the application no longer lives at the property, or someone has developed ongoing or permanent health issues. The type of housing assistance required will change. It may change the access to certain types of properties in the social housing system, such as number of bedrooms or a property with specific modifications.

Housing Connect and Housing Assistance Options

At the time of assessment with Housing Connect, clients may be provided with information on a range of housing assistance options. This will allow applicants to make the best decision about securing housing and support based on their needs, for example information on:

assistance to rent housing that meets their needs assistance to purchase housing that meets their needs

Page 3 of 6

social housing, (including Housing Tasmania and Community Housing)

help with accommodation in a crisis situation or for a short term, e.g. a motel until longer term accommodation can be found

help with the cost of moving, and help to maintain a tenancy.

Eligible clients may choose to receive offers for properties managed by any housing provider by providing consent. In some locations, there may only be one social housing provider able to meet the client’s specific needs in which case, they may not be able to choose their preferred social housing provider.

Waiting for a Property

Applicants must continue to meet Housing Tasmania’s eligibility criteria to remain eligible for housing assistance with Housing Tasmania.Applicants having an application on the waiting list for housing assistance with Housing Tasmania does not guarantee that a housing offer will be made by Housing Tasmania.

The Rights of Clients

Having somewhere to live that is safe and affordable matters to everyone. The Tasmanian Homelessness Charter Guide is a statement of core values with many of the rights containing elements relevant to this policy:Treated Fairly: within this theme service principles include:

Policies apply equally to everyone.Choices: within this theme service principles include:

Understanding your options and what they mean for you (i.e. informed choice of housing or support services for properties managed by any social housing provider)

Discretion Discretion allows organisations to be more responsive through early intervention/prevention.Discretion may be applied to a client’s application for housing assistance and/or support at the time of assessment with Housing Connect.Where possible, applicants in Priority will generally be housed first. However, Housing Tasmania Area Managers have the

Page 4 of 6

discretion to make decisions to allocate vacant Housing Tasmania properties to the most suitable applicant on the waitlist.This supports the creation of mixed communities which promotes social and economic opportunities for clients. Careful allocation ensures that tenants have the best opportunity to establish and maintain a successful tenancy.

Legal Framework This Policy adheres to the Residential Tenancy Act 1997 and the Homes Act 1935.

Exemptions Nil

Responsibilities/ Delegations

Housing Operations staff members are responsible for ensuring the appropriate application of the policy. Area Managers are responsible for Area management including policy application.

Disclaimer This is a statewide policy and must not be re-interpreted so that subordinate policies exist. Should discrete operational differences exist, these should be expressed in the form of an operating procedure or protocol.

Audit and Compliance

Failure to comply with this policy, without providing a good reason for doing so, may lead to disciplinary action.Compliance with this policy is monitored by the Manager Housing Operations, through the delegated Area Managers.Compliance with this policy, without providing a good reason for doing so may lead to disciplinary action.

Procedures and Forms

Consent to share client information

Related Policies Consent to Share Client Information PolicyHousing Assessment Prioritisation System PolicyAllocation Review with Housing Tasmania PolicyBedroom Entitlement PolicyProof of Identity PolicyOutstanding Charges Policy

Policy Title and Version Housing Tasmania Eligibility v2.0

Page 5 of 6

Effective Date 15 June 2015Review Date June 2018Document Number P2012/0178-030Replaces Document Number

n/a

Custodian Housing Tasmania, Social and Affordable Housing PolicyApproved by Manager Housing Strategy

This Policy may be varied, withdrawn or replaced at any time. Compliance with this directive is mandatory for the Department of Health and Human Services. Please Destroy Printed Copies. The electronic version of this Policy is the approved and current version and is located on the Agency’s intranet. Any printed version is uncontrolled and therefore not current.

Page 6 of 6