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  1. Housing.vic.gov.au
  2. Housing options
  3. Social housing

Victorian Housing Register

Need urgent housing?
If you are in immediate danger Call 000.
Are you homeless or at risk of homelessness?
Call 1800 825 955
Free 24 hour phone line. Someone will take your call to get you help nearby. If after hours, they will refer you to the Salvation Army Crisis Services.
Are you escaping family violence?
Call 1800 015 188
Free 24 hour phone line. Someone will take your call from Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre.
The Victorian Housing Register (VHR) is where you can register for social housing in Victoria. Social housing is made up of public housing and community housing.

The register has two categories:

  • Priority Access: 
    • This is for people:
      • Who are homeless and receiving support
      • Are escaping or have escaped family violence
      • With a disability or significant support needs
      • Who need to move for health reasons.
  • Register of Interest:
    • for people who do not meet the Priority Access criteria but are seeking to live in social housing.

Register with HousingVic online services via myGOV.

Applications on the Victorian Housing Register (VHR)

The total number of applications from people seeking social housing in Victoria including transfer applications is available on the Applications on the Victorian Housing Register (VHR) page on the Homes Victoria website.

Updates to housing applications

An up-to-date application makes it easier to find a home that is suitable for your current needs. If your circumstances or housing preferences have changed, you can update your VHR application with HousingVic Online Services via myGOV.

With HousingVic Online Services, you can receive and respond to notifications from the Department and view or update details about your housing application, including:

  • status of your application
  • personal and contact information
  • preference areas 
  • Special Accommodation Requirements (if applicable)
  • household details (update income, remove a household member).

You can find out more about HousingVic Online Services at Online Services webpage.

Alternatively, if you have found suitable housing or would like to discuss your housing application, you can contact your housing office.

What affects the waiting time of an application?

There are multiple factors that will impact on when you may be made an offer of social housing through the VHR and your wait time will depend on your circumstances, including:

  • where you choose to live and what size home you need (there is a higher demand for social housing in certain locations such as inner metropolitan areas of Melbourne)
  • the number of homes in your preferred location area and how often properties become vacant (to maximise your housing opportunity, you can select up to 5 preferred location areas)
  • whether you have consented to all social housing types (such as public housing, community housing, Rental Co-operatives, community managed rooming houses, Aboriginal Housing Victoria)
  • consideration of approved special accommodation requirements, typically relating to location, housing size, property access requirement and property type
  • the number of other applications already approved on the VHR including priority access category groups such as people who have experienced homelessness, family violence or have other special housing needs, such as supported accommodation.

Did you know you can choose up to 5 preferred areas where you can live? Each area you choose will be treated equally and you may be offered housing from any of the areas you have chosen.