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Social housing

Social housing is long-term rental housing for people on very low to moderate incomes that may be experiencing ‘rental stress’ in the private market. It can be provided by community housing organisations like Hume, the state government or by Aboriginal housing organisations.

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Affordable housing

Affordable housing exists to provide secure and reasonably priced rental options for individuals and families who are earning low to moderate incomes. It helps bridge the gap for those who find private rental housing too expensive but don’t qualify for social housing.

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Crisis housing

If you are facing a housing crisis in New South Wales, there are emergency accommodation options available to support you. These temporary housing solutions provide short-term relief, helping you secure a safe place to stay while you work on longer-term housing plans.

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Disability housing

Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) in New South Wales is housing designed specifically for individuals with significant functional impairments or high support needs. It is funded under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and provides options that allow tenants to live more independently while receiving the necessary supports.

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Transitional Housing

Hume Housing offers transitional housing programs designed to assist individuals and families experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless. These programs provide short-term accommodation and support services to help participants transition into stable, long-term housing.

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Am I eligible?

To qualify for social housing, you must meet the eligibility requirements set by the NSW Government. Read more about criteria, how to apply and other details here.

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Am I eligible?

To qualify for affordable housing, you must meet the eligibility requirements set by the NSW Government. Read more about criteria, how to apply and other details here.

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Am I eligible?

To learn more about your options and how to access crisis accommodation, please contact us - we're here to help you during difficult times and ensure you have the support you need.

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Am I eligible?

Eligibility requirements are determined through the NDIS.

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Am I eligible?

To qualify for Transitional Housing you must be experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness. You must also have a Commitment to Finding Long-Term Housing. Read more about the criteria and how to apply here.

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My home

Find everything you need to manage your tenancy at Hume, including how to report a repair, make a payment, submit a complaint, and learn about rent, water charges, and other support services. Click on the quick links for more information.

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Quick links

Request a repair

Our goal is to ensure transparency and help you better understand your rent and water payments, so you feel confident and supported in your tenancy.

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Support service finder

Helps connect you with local services and resources tailored to your specific needs, making it easier to access the support you require.

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Have your circumstances changed? It’s important you let us know. Visit the Change of circumstances page for more information.

Building an inclusive and sustainable future together

Hume’s mission is to actively create and support sustainable and inclusive communities that thrive.

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At a glance

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~5000

total properties

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$100m+

in property development pipeline

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30+ years

What we do

At Hume Community Housing, we don’t just build homes—we create thriving, sustainable communities.

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About us

Find a home

My home

Our communities

Development
& growth

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Affordable housing

What is affordable housing?

Affordable housing exists to provide secure and reasonably priced rental options for individuals and families who are earning low to moderate incomes.

It helps bridge the gap for those who find private rental housing too expensive but don’t qualify for social housing. By offering discounted rents, affordable housing provides support to individuals who actively contribute to their communities and may otherwise struggle in the current rental market.

It ensures more people have access to safe and stable homes, helping them focus on building their futures. Affordable housing is managed by community housing providers, local councils, or private organisations, with rent typically set 20–25% below the market rate.

Key features of affordable housing

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Who it’s for: Designed for low- to moderate-income households

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Rent: Set below market rates or capped at a percentage of household income

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Leases: Fixed-term tenancies, with regular reviews to confirm eligibility

What is the eligibility for affordable housing?

Affordable housing is usually managed like a private rental property, but to live in affordable housing, you must meet the following criteria

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Income Limits: Your household income must fall within specific ranges, which depend on your location and household size. affordable housing income limits change annually.

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Residency: You must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident

 

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Location: Ideally, you will already live in the local area or have established links to the area.

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Assets: You shouldn’t have assets or property that could reasonably be expected to solve your housing situation.

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Good Rental History: You must be able to show that you can maintain a successful tenancy.

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Identification: You must be able to provide 100 points of ID e.g. passport, drivers licence, Medicare card etc

Frequently asked questions

How do I apply for affordable housing?

All Hume affordable housing vacancies are listed on Realestate.com.au.

To apply for a property, you’ll need to register for and attend an open home at the scheduled time. Applications can be submitted online and will be assessed against the eligibility criteria.

You can apply for any number of affordable housing vacancies.

If we need more information or if your application is unsuccessful, our Applications Team will contact you directly.

You should also research vacancies offered by other Community Housing providers in your area. Check out Welcome Mat for other affordable vacancies in NSW.

What is the difference between social and affordable housing?

 Key Distinctions 

Feature  social housing  affordable housing 
 

 

Target Audience 

 Very low-income or high-needs households  Low- to moderate-income households 
Rent  Based on income (25% + Rent Assistance)  Below market rates (20–25% discount) 
Eligibility Threshold  Strict, for very low incomes  Broader, includes moderate incomes 
Management  Government and Community Housing.  Community Housing, councils, private organisations 

 

Can I stay in affordable housing forever?

Affordable housing is designed to provide short- to medium-term support, rather than a long-term housing solution. To ensure it meets the needs of those it’s intended to help, eligibility is reviewed every year.

Can I apply for a transfer if the property does not meet my needs?

No, you would need to submit a Notice of Termination to us and end your tenancy. There will be financial penalties involved in ending a fixed term lease early.

How is rent calculated in affordable housing at Hume?

Rent is set one of two ways, depending on the Affordable Housing program, either:

  • Discount to Market Rent – rent is set at 20 percent below the Market Rent or;
  • Income Based – rent is set at 30 to 40 percent of household gross income

If the applicant or another member of the household receives Commonwealth Rent Assistance, then this amount will also be included in the rent, to a maximum of 74.9% of market rent.

How many bedrooms can I apply for?

Hume allocates affordable housing properties based on the number of bedrooms, age, gender and relationships of all household members.

 Household Type   Minimum Bedrooms  
Single  Studio, one or two bedrooms 
Couple  One or two bedrooms 
Single or Couple with one other household member  Two or three bedrooms 
Single or Couple with two other household members  Two or three bedrooms 
Single or Couple with three other household members  Three or four bedrooms 
Single or Couple with four other household members  Three or four bedrooms

You may also be interested in…

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Crisis housing

Temporary accommodation is designed to give individuals and families experiencing homelessness a short-term solution while they work on securing alternative housing.

Find out more
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Social housing

Social housing provides secure, affordable rental homes for individuals and families who may face challenges accessing private rental housing.

Find out more

Find a home

aboriginal and torres strait islander flags

Hume Community Housing acknowledges Aboriginal Australians as the original custodians and occupants of this land including the Dharawal, Cabrogal, Gadigal, Wonnarua, Worimi, Awabakal peoples and the Darug Nation whose traditional lands Hume Community Housing operates within. We pay our deep respect to the Elders past and present and acknowledge the long standing relationship that the original custodians continue to have with this country and its peoples.

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We welcome & include LGBTQ+ people. We create positive change in our local community. We celebrate LGBTQ+ diversity.

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