Temporary Accommodation

Temporary Accommodation is for people who need short-term crisis housing. It is time-limited accommodation, often in low-cost motels, refuges, hostels or caravan parks.

You might see it referred to as TA, emergency accommodation or emergency housing.

Temporary Accommodation is reserved for people experiencing homelessness or fleeing family violence and who are eligible for general social housing.

An immediate need for temporary accommodation may exist where a person finds themselves:

• Homeless due to natural disasters.
• Unable to live in their homes due to a domestic violence situation, which places them or their children at risk.
• Homeless and with custody of children.

Yes. Couch surfing is considered a form of homelessness. If you have nowhere safe or stable to live, you may apply for Temporary Accommodation.

We will assess your situation, including whether you can stay with family or friends, and whether other support services may be able to help.

Your first priority should be to get to a safe place. This may be with someone you trust, at a police station, hospital, refuge or another secure location.

If you can do without putting yourself at risk, try to take essential items such as identification, medication, bank cards, keys, your phone, chargers and important documents. Otherwise, leave without them.

Once you are somewhere safe, contact housing and crisis support services for help with emergency accommodation and help with planning your next steps.

In NSW, you can call Home in Place on 1300 333 733 during business hours to ask about emergency Temporary Accommodation.

If you need help after hours, call Link2Home on 1800 152 152 for homelessness support and emergency accommodation referrals.

You can also contact 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) for free, confidential domestic, family and sexual violence counselling. This is a 24/7 service.

Link2home is the NSW Government’s information, assessment and referral telephone service for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year on 1800 152 152.

Temporary Accommodation is designed for short-term use. Access is typically limited to seven nights (or nine if beginning on a weekend) while support services help you secure alternative living arrangements, such as transitional housing, community housing, and affordable housing.

That said, there’s no one-size-fits-all limit. The duration of your stay depends on your specific circumstances, availability in your area and the type of housing you need.

For example, your stay may be extended if you still require urgent support and you’re actively engaging with housing or homelessness services.

If you need to stay longer, please contact Home in Place, Link2home, or your caseworker as soon as possible.

We are committed to helping you throughout this difficult time and can review your situation to determine whether an extension or another housing option may be available.

Once you’re staying in Temporary Accommodation, we can help you search for the next suitable housing option based on your circumstances, safety needs and local availability.

This may include a referral to transitional housing, which bridges the gap between homelessness and permanent living arrangements. This essential support is offered to people on the housing register who have an urgent need for medium-term accommodation.

If you accept a transitional housing offer from Home in Place, you’ll need to sign a tenancy agreement with us. We’ll also work with you to create a tenancy plan that identifies your support needs, housing goals and available pathways.

From there, long-term options may include community housing, affordable housing or a private rental. The purpose of this support is to help you move from crisis accommodation into a safer and more secure housing arrangement.