Housing & Accommodation

If you do not have a safe place to stay, help is available 24/7.

You do not need to be sleeping rough to access support, being unsafe at home, couch surfing, or about to lose your accommodation all count.

Call 1800 825 955 – 24/7, free, statewide housing crisis line. They will connect you to local emergency accommodation and support closest to you.

For emergency housing or if you are at risk of homelessness contact:

• Meli | 📞 1800 825 955 | 🌐 org.au/housing/
  Youth housing and homelessness support in the Geelong and Colac region for ages 16–24.

Or drop-in at 📍 Meli – 54C Bromfield St COLAC or 📍 Meli – 222 Malop Street GEELONG

• Crisis phone line | 📞 1800 825 955
  Free 24/7 statewide crisis and emergency accommodation helpline – Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre.

Ask Izzy: FREE directory to find local housing, food, and support services near you – askizzy.org.au

In Victoria, most young people rent privately through a landlord or real estate agent.

Private rentals are governed by the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (Vic), which gives you legal rights to a safe, secure and well-maintained home. Your landlord must meet minimum standards, give proper notice before entering or ending your tenancy, and cannot evict you without a valid reason.

Find out what’s changed from 25 November 2025 and what it means for you here:
https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/housing/renting/new-changes-to-the-rental-laws

If you are on a low income, you may be eligible for social housing through the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) – this includes public housing and community housing.

You can apply through Victorian Housing Register at Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH): for social housing application | Visit https://www.housing.vic.gov.au/

For detailed information about your rights as a renter, contact:

• Tenants Victoria | 📞 03 9416 2577 | 🌐 tenantsvic.org.au/
  Free advice for all Victorian renters.

If you need urgent assistance or feel unsafe right now, call 000.

Legal advice: Do you think you may have a legal issue and would like advice? Free and confidential help is available.

Contact:

• Barwon Community Legal Service | 📞 1300 430 599 | 📱 Text 0487 182 273 | or click here to request an appointment online

• Victoria Legal Aid | 📞 1300 792 387 | 🌐 legalaid.vic.gov.au/contact-us | 💬 Webchat

For detailed information about your rights as a renter, contact:

• Tenants Victoria | 📞 03 9416 2577 | 🌐 tenantsvic.org.au/
  Free advice for all Victorian renters

For emergency housing or if you are at risk of homelessness, help is available 24/7.

• Meli | 📞 1800 825 955 | 🌐 org.au/housing/
  Youth housing and homelessness support in the Geelong and Colac region for ages 16–24.
  Or drop-in at: 📍 Meli – 54C Bromfield St COLAC or 📍 Meli – 222 Malop Street GEELONG

• Crisis phone line | 📞 1800 825 955
  Free 24/7 statewide crisis and emergency accommodation helpline – Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre.

If you need to speak to someone urgently please call:

• Lifeline (Free 24/7) | 📞 13 11 14 | 🌐  Webchat | 📱 Text 0477 131 114
  Crisis support and suicide prevention

• Kids Helpline (Free 24/7) | 📞 1800 551 800 | 🌐 kidshelpline.com.au/
  Counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25.

• 🌈 Rainbow Door (10-5pm every day) | 📞 1800 729 367 | 📱 Text 0480 017 246 | 🌐 rainbowdoor.org.au/ 
  Free helpline and specialist support service for LGBTIQA+ Victorians, their friends and families.

• 🖤💛❤️ 13YARN (Free 24/7) | 📞 13 92 76 | 🌐 13yarn.org.au/
  Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support line developed and run by community in partnership with Lifeline.

Other helpful resources:

• Ask Izzy | 🌐 org.au/
  FREE directory to find local housing, food, and support services near you

• Quick Help Guide (BAT Force) | 🌐 batforce.org.au/quick-help-guide/
  A practical guide connecting you to support for food, housing, mental health, family violence, financial stress and tenancy.

• YouthNav (Youth Central) | 🌐 youthcentral.vic.gov.au/youthnav
  A life skills and information hub for young people aged 12 to 25 that helps build knowledge, confidence, and independence into adulthood.

Check out the videos, fact sheets and resources below for more information or try our Legal Health Check HERE