JavaScript is required

Social housing allocations

A report on social housing allocations for the 2019/2020 period.

Aboriginal flagTorres Strait Islander flag

The Victorian Government acknowledges Aboriginal Traditional Owners of Country throughout Victoria and pays respect to their cultures and Elders past and present.

On this page

Quick facts

Homes Victoria - Different Homes Icon
  • In 2019/2020 public and community housing (‘social housing’) allocated a total of 5,414 dwellings to applicants from the Victorian Housing Register.
  • Just under 3,300 of these allocations were to individuals or households entering the social housing system ('new' allocations).
Homes Victoria - Family + Homes Icon
  • Of these new allocations:
    • 55% were to single people and 30% to single parent families.
    • 60% were for individuals or households from the Homeless with Support priority category.
    • 13% were to Aboriginal households.
Homes Victoria - Transfer Icon
  • Just over 2,100 allocations were for existing social housing households transferring from one property to another, within the social housing system.
  • The vast majority of these (94%) were priority transfers.

Note: 2019/20 was the first full year that the majority of registered housing agencies allocated properties to households from the Victorian Housing Register. As processes and systems were being refined during this time, it is anticipated that this may have resulted in some under recording of community housing allocations.

Total social housing allocation

In 2019/2020 public and community housing allocated a total of 5,415 dwellings to applicants from the Victorian Housing Register.

  • public housing allocated 4,299 dwellings (6.7% of all public housing dwellings)
  • community housing allocated 1,115 dwellings. Of these, 197 allocations were to rooming houses (9.3% of all rooming house dwellings) and 918 to all other forms of housing (7.1% of total dwellings).

Figure 1. Total social housing allocations

  • Download 'Figure 1. Total social housing allocations'

Number of new and transfer allocations

  • 68% of all social housing allocations were to households entering the social housing system.
  • 32% of all allocations were to existing social households relocating to another home:
    • 95% of all public housing transfers, and 82% of community housing transfers, were to households approved for a priority transfer.
  • Priority transfers include households that need to move for:
    • stock management reasons (eg. relocating to enable property redevelopment)
    • when their home is no longer safe (eg. family violence)
    • changes in circumstances that make a home no longer suitable (eg. due to deteriorating health, a home with stairs is no longer manageable).

Figure 2. New and transfer allocations

  • Download 'Figure 2. New and transfer allocations'

New allocations

The following provides further details about the 3,293 individuals and households who entered social housing in 2019/20 (referred to as ‘new’ allocations).

Find a further explanation of each priority allocation category(opens in a new window) at the bottom of this page or on housing.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window)

Figure 3. New allocations by VHR categories

  • Download 'Figure 3. New allocations by VHR categories'

New allocations to Aboriginal households

Excluding Aboriginal Housing Victoria, which allocates exclusively to Aboriginal households, 9% of all new allocations in the community housing sector were to Aboriginal households.

Figure 4. Proportion of allocation to Aboriginal households

  • Download 'Figure 4. Proportion of allocation to Aboriginal households'

New allocations by household type

  • Over 50% of all new allocations in social housing were to single people (singles over and under 55).
  • At least 37% of new allocations were families with dependent children (single parents or couples with children).
  • Group households includes singles sharing, or households that include non-dependent relatives (eg. a single parent living with an adult child or grandparent).

Figure 5. Household type

  • Download 'Figure 5. Household type'

New allocations by location

The proportion of allocations in each locational grouping was generally representative of total dwellings in that location.

Figure 6. Location

  • Download 'Figure 6. Location'

New allocations — priority housing waiting times

  • From the date of approval to the applicant’s priority category, applicants waited 12 months on average to be housed.

Figure 7. Waiting times for priority applicants

  • Download 'Figure 7. Waiting times for priority applicants'

Application categories and priority order on Victorian Housing Register

PriorityApplication CategoryApplication Type
1.
Emergency Management Housing
For people whose housing is no longer safe or habitable, due to an emergency, for example, a bushfire, flood or storm.
Transfer or new applications
2.
Priority Transfer – Stock Management
For existing public and community housing tenants whose home is to be redeveloped or sold
Transfer applications only
3.
Priority Transfer - Other
For existing public or community housing tenants who require relocation due to their current property being unsafe (eg family violence) or unsuitable (require a modified property), or is to be redeveloped, sold or could be better utilised.
Transfer applications only
4.
Homeless with Support
People who are homeless and receiving support. Applications are lodged by support workers.
New applications only
5.
Supported Housing
For households who need a home with major disability modifications, or that receive independent living assistance or care. Applications are lodged by support workers.
New applications only
6.
Special Housing Needs
For individuals or families whose current housing has become unsuitable and who have no other housing options. Reasons applicants might apply under this category include: insecure housing; inappropriate housing; unsafe housing and urgent medical need.
New applications only
7.
Special Housing Needs Aged 55+
For singles or couples aged 55 years and over who are not eligible for the other priority access categories.
New applications only
8.
Register of Interest
For all other applicants who meet the general eligibility criteria for the VHR but do not satisfy the additional priority access criteria.
Transfer or new applications

More information

Further details regarding eligibility income and asset eligibility criteria is available at housing.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window)

Housing & property

Updated

Back to top