Emergency housing contribution

Clients staying in accommodation funded by an Emergency Housing Grant pay an emergency housing contribution after the first 7 nights in the accommodation.

The emergency housing contribution is generally 25% of the client's net income (including their partner's income, if any).

However, if the client's income is less than Jobseeker Support, they will pay 25% of the appropriate Jobseeker Support rate that would apply to them (if they were a beneficiary).

Clients staying in accommodation funded by an Emergency Housing Grant and who pay an emergency housing contribution towards their accommodation costs generally do not qualify for Accommodation Supplement.

The emergency housing contribution may still be included in Temporary Additional Support if the client does not qualify for Accommodation Supplement.

Arrears for the emergency housing contribution can be included as an accommodation cost, when the client is repaying the arrears under a payment arrangement agreed to by MSD. The client needs to be meeting the terms of the payment arrangement.

Example:

A client has emergency housing arrears totalling $210. We have agreed with the client that they will repay the arrears at $10 a week and the client is making those repayments. The amount of $10 a week can be included in the client's Temporary Additional Support assessment.