Crisis and emergency accommodation
A range of specialist services provide crisis and emergency accommodation in Victoria:
The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing can arrange crisis and has a 24-hour phone line 1800 825 955. The support workers who staff the phone line can direct you to a service close to you.
Safe Steps can arrange emergency for people experiencing family violence and has a 24-hour phone line 1800 015 188. Safe Steps provides support, emergency accommodation, safety planning, and referrals for women and children.
Emergency accommodation is available for people who are experiencing a crisis, including:
- family violence
- homelessness
- a risk of being homeless.
This includes people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness due to a disaster.
Social housing
For longer term housing needs, the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing can provide social or community housing. Social housing is not available as emergency accommodation but is available to low-income Victorians who meet certain eligibility criteria. The Department’s has information on how to apply.
Where to get help
Call Disaster Legal Help Victoria on 1800 113 432 (weekdays 8am to 6pm) for legal information and referrals or contact your closest community legal to get advice from a local lawyer. For alternative contact options, visit our homepage.
For additional support options and a directory of other services, visit Other organisations that can help.
Department of Fairness, Families and Housing (DFFH)
Connects people who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or escaping family violence with services close to them that can provide crisis accommodation.
1800 825 955, available 24/7.
Safe Steps
Provides telephone crisis counselling, referrals, information and support for people impacted by family violence.
1800 015 188 (Family violence response line), available 24/7.
Web chat is available Monday to Friday, 9am to midnight.
Reviewed 10 October 2022