Allocations Manual Homeless with Support Category

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The remaining three segments in order of prioritisation were:

• 
  ‘Supported Housing’ segment aimed at those who had specific accommodation needs due to major/full modification requirements and/or high personal support needs related to age, disability or health condition (e.g.: psychiatric condition, frail aged, and families with children in care etc)
  
• 
  ‘Special Housing Needs’ segment aimed at those households residing in inappropriate housing (e.g.: insecure housing, overcrowding, family reunification, unsafe housing, serious medical problems etc)
  
• 
  ‘Wait Turn’ segment for low income earners.
  

This analysis also demonstrated a growing base of Department tenancies with an increased propensity to experience difficulty in stabilising their housing because of a support disconnection.

The analysis showed that adjustments to the system could be made to improve the outcomes for homeless individuals and families with support needs by:

• 
  providing a framework for allocations based on a clear understanding of what the support needs are for individuals or families, and what programs are in place or required to assist in addressing these needs
  
• 
  simplifying the application process to ensure individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness for the first time and are receiving support can access the highest priority circumstance
  
• 
  prioritising individuals and families who are homeless due to family violence, as it continues to be a major contributor to family breakdown and homelessness in Victoria
  
• 
  resolving the situation for individuals of mental health or disability services who are or have been homeless and are currently exiting short term/care or treatment services
  
• 
  maximising flow through the homelessness service system by giving priority to those in crisis or transitional housing.
  

The following pages detail the operational policy arrangements that give life to these changes.