Longer grants during a pandemic, natural disaster or other emergency event

The usual criteria for grants of up to 21 nights still apply to applications for an Emergency Housing Grant during a pandemic, natural disaster, or other emergency event.

However, the client may not be required to meet the emergency housing responsibilities during a pandemic, natural disaster, or other emergency event if there is a good and sufficient reason they would be unable to meet them. 

For example:

• there is no support service available for the client to be referred to due to the pandemic, natural disaster, or other emergency event or
• it would be unreasonable or impractical for the client to engage with the support service or
• if there is a pandemic or severe flood, and it would not be reasonable for MSD to require the client to obtain other housing e.g., by attending a rental viewing (as the area the client was meant to attend the viewing has been flooded)

MSD needs to consider the clients individual circumstances and the circumstances of the event.

Note generally, the client must still pay the emergency housing contribution.

If the client does not meet the criteria for a longer grant, they can only be granted an Emergency Housing Grant for:

• up to 7 nights at a time or
• up to 14 nights at a time if there is low availability of emergency housing in their region