Private Rental Access Program (PRAP)

Research has shown that family breakdown caused by violence is a major pathway into homelessness*. HomeGround’s Private Rental Access Program provides housing outreach help to women and their children who are experiencing, or escaping from, family violence.

In partnership with the Salvation Army Family Violence Outreach Program, HomeGround helps women regain stable housing in the private rental market and avoid contact with thehomeless services sector. Crisis accommodation,such as private boarding houses and caravan parks, can be particularly unsuitable for women and children who have experienced family violence and have a heightened need for safety and security.

The Private Rental Access Program has been extremely successful and cost-effective, with about 50 families every year securing private rental accommodation. The resilience of this client group has contributed to a high rate of success in maintaining tenancies.

* On the move: a longitudinal study of pathways in and out of homelessness, PhD thesis, Dr Guy Johnson. Available at: www.ahuri.edu.au

Private Rental Access Program (PRAP) case study

Sally* was 26 with a two year old son. Sally’s husband of four years was violent throughout their relationship. The violence had escalated in the last six months of their relationship ending in sexual assault. After this, Sally had fled, leaving her son behind. She moved in with her mother but was not welcome there. Sally’s husband agreed to let their son live with her once she found suitable housing.

HomeGround’s Private Rental Access Program worker met with Sally six times over a period of four weeks to provide her with the support she needed, including referral to the Family Violence Outreach Program, transport to property inspections, housing advocacy with real estate agents, private rental brokerage funding assistance, a bond loan from the Office of
Housing and Housing Emergency Fund assistance.

Private rental housing was secured for Sally and her son, successfully keeping them out of the homelessness service system and avoiding the associated risks and trauma of insecure
crisis and refuge accommodation.

* Name has been changed