You may be eligible for accommodation through Housing ACT, if you are:

The ACT Government's Affordable Home Purchase Scheme provides a pathway to home ownership. It assists low-to-moderate income households by providing homes for purchase at affordable prices. A mix of houses, townhouses, terraces and apartments have been offered as part of the scheme.

For more information email affordablehomepurchase@act.gov.au.

If you are not eligible for the Affordable Home Purchase Scheme you may wish to consider these options:

• Home buyer assistance
• Home owner assistance
• Land sales through the Suburban Land Agency

The ACT has a range of housing options for people living with disability.

• The Disability Housing Hub offers a diverse range of housing options in the ACT and local NSW region that are available to persons living with a disability.
• The Disability Duty Concession Scheme encourages adults with a long-term and permanent disability, who may otherwise rely on government accommodation, to find long term accommodation to suit their needs.
• The Special Disability Trust Duty Exemption is a trust established for the future care and accommodation needs of people living with severe disability.

If you need further advice for housing options and are a person with disability you can phone Housing ACT on 1800 950 255 or contact the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) which provides support for Australians with disability in Australia.

There are a range of services available to older people to assist them to live independently.

• The ACT Government offers an Affordable Rental Scheme for older people on low incomes.
• The ACT Revenue Office offers a range of assistance schemes and concessions for homeowners.
• Council on the Ageing (COTA) ACT provides Canberrans over 50 years of age with advice on a range of housing issues through their Housing Options Advisory Service.

You may be eligible for:

• Public housing, community housing or housing provided by the ACT Affordable Rental Office
  • Social housing can be public or community housing. It is low cost housing managed by the ACT Government that usually requires people to pay up to 25% of their income in rent.
  • Community Housing offers long-term rental accommodation and is provided by not-for-profit community organisations. Community Housing organisations are able to offer discounted rent to their tenants because they receive assistance from Government in the form of grants, loans, dwellings, or operational funding.
  • The ACT Government offers an Affordable Rental Scheme for older people on low incomes.
• Financial assistance
  • No-interest rental bond help that covers up to 100% of the rental bond for low to moderate income earners.
  • Safer Families Assistance offers eligible people leaving domestic and family violence financial assistance to start (or maintain) a safe and stable home. To access this service phone Gateway Services on 1800 950 255 or visiting 153 Emu Bank, Belconnen ACT 2617 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.

You may also wish to consider:

• Tertiary Student Accommodation:
  • The Australian National University
  • University of Canberra
  • Australian Catholic University
  • Canberra Institute of Technology
• Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services
• National Rental Assistance Scheme
• ACT Registered Community Housing Providers:
  • Havelock Housing Association Incorporated
  • Community Housing Canberra
  • Environmental Collective Housing Organisation Inc
  • Northside Community Service
  • Project Independence Ltd
  • Tamil Senior Citizens Association (ACT) Inc
  • United Vietnamese Congregation of Canberra and Surrounding Districts
  • Young Women's Christian Association of Canberra
  • Catholic Care Canberra and Goulburn
  • Barnardos Australia
  • Focus ACT Incorporated
  • Toora Women Inc
  • Everyman Australia
  • Yeddung Mura (Good Pathways Aboriginal Corporation)

The ACT government has a range of services and external programs that are focused on providing support and advice for all of our tenants.

• Canberra Community Law provides free legal advice if you are having problems with Housing ACT or a community housing provider in the ACT. Phone (02) 6218 7900.
• Supportive Tenancy Service (STS) works with people whose tenancy is at risk (Tenancy Support) or who are facing barriers in establishing a private tenancy (Housing Options).
• Public housing tenants can contact their housing manager or Housing ACT for information and support relating to their current tenancy.

If you are:

• aged between 16 and 25 years of age
• an ACT resident
• leaving the justice, care and protection system or homelessness services
• on a low income and can’t afford to rent in the private market

you may be eligible for Housing ACT's Young People Program (HYPP) which helps young people aged up to 25 years old to find secure and affordable long term accommodation.

You may also wish to consider the following options:

• My Community Directory lists a variety of youth services including accommodation and crisis and emergency services.
• OneLink can talk to you about housing options, including emergency accommodation, public housing, community housing, private rental and other options, and about what assistance might be available for you to secure a tenancy.