Support for people facing homelessness

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For older people with unpredictable housing arrangements or even homelessness, there are aged care services that can provide support and help deal with housing problems.

If you’re an older person who is renting, in an insecure housing situation, or facing homelessness, affordable housing can be accessed through aged care services.

Aged care homes

Aged care homes provide care and accommodation services for people facing homelessness, with some aged care homes specialising in caring for this group.

Commonwealth Home Support Programme

Under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme there are a number of services to help older people that are homeless or at risk of being homeless as they get older. This might be because they are on a low income or have insecure housing and face challenges finding a place to live that they can call home.

Assistance with Care and Housing services delivered under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme can link you with a provider – usually a charitable or religious organisation – to find better, more stable accommodation. Once this is organised, you might then be linked to other services to receive help at home or in the community.

Eligibility

You may be eligible for assistance if you:

  • are aged 50 years or older and are prematurely aged*, or
  • are on a low income, or
  • are 45 years or older (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people)

and

  • are homeless or at risk of being homeless.

You, or your family member, friend or carer can apply for help by calling My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.

* People whose life experience – such as active military service, homelessness or substance abuse – have seen them age more quickly than other people.

Services available

Services aim to link you to suitable housing and community support services.

Even if a person is already homeless these services can help link them with options to get back into a house. To work out which services might be available to you, call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.

Cost of services

These services are paid for by the Australian Government.

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