In emergency housing for 12 continuous weeks or more
To qualify for the emergency housing fast-track, the client must be staying in emergency housing for at least 12 continuous weeks at the time of their fast-track assessment.
Breaks of up to 28 days
The client can leave emergency housing for breaks of up to 28 days without it affecting their 12-week count.
There is no limit to the number of breaks a client can take from emergency housing as long as each break is for 28 days or less.
A break longer than 28 days will reset the client's 12-week count in emergency housing. This means that once the client has left emergency housing for a break of 29 days or more, they will no longer qualify for the fast-track.
Example
Tyson and his 2 dependent children stayed in contracted emergency housing for 8 weeks. They moved out of contracted emergency housing to stay with Tyson's relatives for 21 days over Christmas.
Tyson and his children returned to contracted emergency housing as they were no longer able to stay with Tyson's relatives and had no other options.
Tyson's break from contracted emergency housing was less than 28 days.
Tyson and his children were in emergency housing for another 4 weeks. He meets the 12 week continuous qualification to be added to the emergency housing fast-track (8 weeks initial stay + further 4 weeks).
The break of 21 days does not affect his 12-week count
Breaks longer than 28 days - exceptional circumstances
If the client left emergency housing for more than 28 days because of exceptional circumstances, MSD may still find the client qualifies for the emergency housing fast-track.
Break due to emergency housing non-entitlement period
If a client on the emergency housing fast track gets an emergency housing non-entitlement period, they must be removed from the emergency housing fast track for their whole 13-week non-entitlement period. This includes any period where the client has their non-entitlement period paused under limited circumstances.
If the client returns to emergency housing after their 13-week non-entitlement period ends, they will need to be in emergency housing for another 12 weeks or more before they can qualify for the emergency housing fast track again.
