Housing Support for the Aged Program (HSAP)

This program supports people 50 years and over with complex needs and a history of homelessness to maintain long-term public housing and improve their health and wellbeing. Ongoing case management and support is provided to these people as they enter public housing through the priority segments of the Segmented Waiting List or into community managed housing, or those already in public housing where their tenancy is at risk.

Members of the client population typically:

• Have complex support needs associated with combinations of conditions such as psychiatric disability, alcohol or drug dependence, acquired brain injury, sensory disability, age-related frailty, and chronic health issues
• Have a history of homelessness and social marginalisation.
• Lack support from friends and family and are not well linked into services.

Support includes low-level monitoring, case management to coordinate client access to services, and practical assistance such as helping clients to get to appointments or linking them into social and recreational activities. Workers have access to a flexible pool of funds to overcome crises (including evictions) or respond to a pressing need that cannot be readily met by existing services.

HSAP clients are usually identified and referred by the Community Connection Program.

There are currently 13 HSAP services in Victoria. Most employ one worker and have a capacity to support 20 to 25 clients at any point in time.

The HSAP is funded through the Department of Human Services Aged Care Program.

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