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If you’re in trouble and need a place to stay, either short term or for longer, there are people who can help. For emergency accommodation, check this list.
Crisis Numbers
Youth Accommodation Association – 9318 1531 ext 2
They have a daily update of free beds, and provide information on youth homelessness and other related issues.
Women’s and Girl’s Emergency Centre – 9360 5388
Women and girls can find refuge and relief here, with shelter, food and counselling provided. You can find them at 177 Albion Street in Sydney.
Homeless Persons Information Centre – 1800 234 566
If you are over 18 and homeless, you can call this people for information and referral.
Centrelink Community Officers
Homeless and ‘at risk’ people can get help in understanding, claiming and keeping income support payments. You can contact them from any Centrelink office; Chatswood’s is at 56-64 Archer Street.
On Your Own
If you want to leave home and have your own place, the first step is finding somewhere to rent. The Internet has lots of rental listings for Sydney, as well as the newspapers.
Due to high costs of living alone, you may want to share with someone. Newspapers list people looking for other people to share with, and so do their websites. For a good guide to the ups and downs of sharehousing, try the Share Housing Guide.
Renting in Willoughby can get pretty expensive. The average cost of a renting a two bedroom house is $400, and a three bedroom house is $500. A one bedroom unit costs about $345 a week, while a two bedroom unit is $370. These are average costs, so you may find something cheaper. But the North Shore is more expensive than the rest of Sydney; you might need to look elsewhere.
You will also have to pay bills like water, electricity, gas, and telephone.
If you are a low-income earner, you can go on the Department of Housing waiting list. They will charge 25% of your income a week as rent. You can get more information and registration forms from their website, or you could call their Ryde office on 9809 8444.
Community Housing organisations provide housing for those needing low-cost rental accommodation. You will be assessed against your need and the available accommodation, and your rent will be charged as a proportion of your income. To be eligible, you must be on the Department of Housing waiting list, but you will be allocated a house on a needs basis, not on how long you’ve been waiting. Call Community Housing Lower North Shore on 9439 1399 for more information.