Financial support options for people experiencing family violence

Financial support and brokerage options for people experiencing family violence can be difficult to navigate. We’ve listed below options available for your clients, with the main eligibility criteria for you to consider. Financial brokerage options change, so we encourage you to check the availability of a specific brokerage each time you try to access it for your clients.

Options are detailed in the following order:

What is the assistance?  

Who is eligible?   

How do I access it for my client?  

Help with rent 

Local housing access point – PRAP 

• Private rentals 
• 2 weeks rent in arrears or advance, some bond & removalists costs 
• Once every 12 months 
• Rent less than 55% of client’s income 
• Visa status? 

Women’s Housing 

• Private rentals 
• 2 weeks rent in arrears or advance, bon & removalists costs, some bond payments, crisis accommodation if homeless 
• Assessed every Monday 
• Once every 12 months 
• Rent less than 55% of client’s income 
• Women only 

Family violence flexible support package 

• Private rentals 
• Set up or sustain housing – rent arrears, rent in advance, bond, removalists, white goods 
• Must be getting help from a Victorian family violence support service 
• Once per ‘support period’ or case management plan 
• Women only 
• https://www.vic.gov.au/flexible-support-packages  

Queens Fund 

• Up to $350 
• Rent or a range of other needs such as school uniforms, education, removalists, medication etc 
• Assessed once a month 
• Once every 12 months 
• Visa status? Unknown 
• Only workers from community organisations can apply on behalf of a client 
• Single women only (no supportive partner) 
• https://www.queensfund.org.au/apply 

Good Shepherd NILS 

• Up to $2000 no interest loan 
• Essential goods and services including rent, bond, travel costs, household items, car repairs and rego, medical, education and training, technology 
• Visa status? 
• It’s a loan so you have to be able to repay the loan amount 
• https://goodshep.org.au/services/nils/ 

Centrelink crisis payment for family and domestic violence 

• Must already be receiving income support from Centrelink  
• Payment amount is equal to the maximum basic rate of your current income support payment 
• Must have left your home, or the family member responsible for FDV must not be living in the same home, or you were removed from your home 
• Experiencing severe financial hardship 
• https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/crisis-payment-for-extreme-circumstances-family-and-domestic-violence  

Uniting Escaping Violence Payment (EVP) 

• Up to $5000 
• Goods and services like removalists, bond and basics for a new home, or up to $1500 in cash 
• Also receive casework support from EVP provider 
• Experiencing financial stress 
• Australian resident or permanent resident 
• Once every 12 months 
• https://www.unitingvictas.org.au/services/family-services/family-violence-services/escaping-violence-payment/ 

Red Cross – Family and domestic violence financial assistance 

• Up to $3000 
• Must be on temporary visa or have uncertain visa status (not available for citizens or permanent visa holders) 
• Experiencing financial hardship 
• https://www.redcross.org.au/migration/family-and-domestic-violence-financial-assistance-program/