Housing for children needing protection
We consider all types of housing assistance to provide the best type of housing support for a child in need of protection.
A child in need of protection is:
- a child who is at risk of being removed from their family
- an unborn child who is at risk of being removed from their family after birth
- a child who is living with an approved foster or kinship carer but is returning to live with their family
- a child who is living with an approved foster or kinship carer
- a young person transitioning to independence from the care of the state or from youth detention.
Talk to us about your needs and if you need support to identify the right products and services for you and for the child or young person.
We will work with you and Child Safety Services to develop a Joint Action Plan to work out:
- housing and support services that may be available and suitable for you
- whether public housing and community housing is the right housing option for you and for the child/children or young person in your care
- how urgent the housing need is.
If public and community housing is the right housing option for you, we will assist you to complete an Application for Social Housing form . We will continue to work with you and Child Safety Services after you apply. This will help to identify any changes to your circumstances that may have an impact on your housing needs.
If public and community housing is not the best housing option, we will help you to apply for other housing assistance—for example, if you need assistance and support to find a suitable property in the private rental market, RentConnect may be able to help, along with a bond loan for private rental to help pay the rental bond when you move into the property.
Housing help available
Each Housing Service Centre has staff who can work with you and your support agency to explore your housing options.
Young people in care or who have left care can also get support with their transition to independence. This may include getting help with the cost of moving to independent living through Youth Housing Essentials.
More information
There may be other housing and support services available and suitable for you:
- contact your nearest Housing Service Centre
- read about assistance for young people moving to independent living
- find out other housing assistance options.