Crisis and emergency accommodation
Crisis and emergency accommodation is offered by the states and territories to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, or after an emergency.
Help is available if you are:
- escaping family violence
- homeless, or at risk of homelessness
- experiencing another housing-related emergency.
If you require support in your local area, you may wish to visit Ask Izzy(Opens external website). Ask Izzy is a website which connects people in need with housing, a meal, help with money, family violence support, counselling and much more.
If you are in urgent need of accommodation, you can contact one of the following services in your state or territory:
Australian Capital Territory
Onelink(Opens external website) – 1800 176 468
New South Wales
Link2Home(Opens external website) – 1800 152 152
Northern Territory
ShelterMe(Opens external website) – (08) 8985 4389
Queensland
Homeless Hotline(Opens external website) – 1800 474 753
South Australia
Homeless Connect(Opens external website) – 1800 003 308
Tasmania
Housing Connect(Opens external website) – 1800 800 588
Victoria
Crisis and Emergency Accommodation(Opens external website) – 1800 825 955 or (03) 9536 7777
Western Australia
Entrypoint Perth(Opens external website) – 1800 124 684
Social, public and community housing contacts
Public housing is a form of long-term rental social housing.
You can apply for both public and community housing through the Housing Register of each state and territory.
There are different rules for accessing long term social, public or community housing in each state and territory. Most states and territories offer housing to people who are on a low income.
You may also be eligible for housing if you:
- have recently become homeless
- need to move for health reasons
- live with disability and require special support
- are escaping family violence.
Visit Centrelink(Opens external website) for information on the support available to individuals during difficult times. This includes confidential counselling, support services and information, and assistance with paying rent and other bills.
Information on housing assistance is provided by housing authorities in each state and territory.
Australian Capital Territory
ACT Government(Opens external website) – 13 22 81
New South Wales
Department of Communities and Justice – Housing and homelessness(Opens external website) – 1800 422 322
Northern Territory
Department of Housing, Local Government and Community Development(Opens external website) – (08) 8999 5511
Queensland
Queensland Government – Emergency and temporary accommodation(Opens external website)
Department of Housing and Public Works(Opens external website) – 13 74 68
South Australia
SA Housing Trust(Opens external website) – 131 299
Tasmania
Homes Tasmania(Opens external website) – 1300 665 663
Victoria
Department of Families, Fairness and Housing(Opens external website)
Western Australia
Department of Communities(Opens external website) – (08) 9222 4666
Crisis support
Lifeline(Opens external website) – 13 11 14
24 hours, 7 days a week
A national charity providing all Australians experiencing emotional distress with access to 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention.
National Suicide Call Back Service(Opens external website) – 1300 659 467
24 hours, 7 days a week
A nationwide service providing telephone and online counselling to people affected by suicide.
Thirrili Postvention Response Service(Opens external website) – 1800 805 801
24 hours, 7 days a week
The Indigenous Suicide Postvention Response Service supports individuals, families and communities affected by suicide or other significant trauma.
Domestic, family and sexual violence support
1800RESPECT(Opens external website) – 1800 737 732
24 hours, 7 days a week
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, or visit the 1800RESPECT(Opens external website) website for online chat and video call services.
Mental health support and advice
Beyond Blue(Opens external website) – 1300 224 636
24 hours, 7 days a week
Provides information and support to help anyone in Australia achieve their best possible mental health.
13 YARN(Opens external website) – 13 92 76
24 hours, 7 days a week
Support line for mob who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping.
Kids Helpline(Opens external website) – 1800 55 1800
24 hours, 7 days a week
Free, confidential online and phone counselling for young people aged 5 to 25.
Open Arms – Veterans and Families Counselling(Opens external website) – 1800 011 046
24 hours, 7 days a week
Mental health support for Navy, Army and Air Force personnel, veterans and their families.
QLife(Opens external website) – 1800 184 527
Open 3pm to midnight 7 days a week
Anonymous and free LGBTIQ+ counselling and referral service for all Australians.
Financial support and advice
National Debt Helpline(Opens external website) – 1800 007 007
Provides a single contact point for people to access financial counselling, either immediately on the phone, or through a referral to another service.
Centrelink(Opens external website) – 132 850
Centrelink social workers can provide support to Centrelink customers and provide information about community support services.
Department of Veterans Affairs(Opens external website) – 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372)
Provides a single contact point for veterans and their families to access financial assistance and wellbeing supports, and facilitates access to mental health counselling.
Disability and carer support
Disability Gateway(Opens external website) – 1800 643 787
8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday
The Disability Gateway assists all people with disability, their families and carers to locate and access services across Australia.
National Relay Service 1800 555 677
24 hours, 7 days a week
Interpreters 13 14 50
24 hours, 7 days a week
Carer Gateway(Opens external website) – 1800 422 737
8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday
Carers can access individually tailored services within their local area through Carer Gateway service providers.
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)(Opens external website) – 1800 800 110
The NDIS provides funding to eligible people with disability to gain more time with family and friends, greater independence and access to new skills.
Email: enquiries@ndis.gov.au
Support for people from non-English speaking backgrounds
Translating and Interpreting Service(Opens external website) (TIS) – 131 450
Provides access to phone and on-site interpreting services in over 150 languages.
Aboriginal Interpreter Service(Opens external website) (AIS) – 1800 334 944
Helps to address language barriers faced by Indigenous people in the Northern Territory.
Email: ais@nt.gov.au
National Relay Service(Opens external website) (NRS)
Allows people who cannot hear or do not use their voice to communicate with a hearing person over the phone.
Voice relay number:
TTY number:
SMS relay number: