Emergency accommodation
If you’ve been told not to return home, or your home is too damaged to live in:
- Find a safe place to stay.
Try to stay with family or friends if you can. - Talk to your insurance company.
They may be able to help with emergency accommodation. - No safe place to go?
You might be able to get emergency accommodation.
Short-term emergency accommodation can help for anyone who can’t go home because of the bushfires. This ensures everyone has a safe place to stay.
You may be eligible if you have no other place to go.
Before seeking this support, people are encouraged to consider options such as:
- contacting family or friends for support
- speaking to their insurance provider about what their policy will cover.
If you don’t have insurance or a place to stay, call the Emergency Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760.
Temporary accommodation
Temporary accommodation supports uninsured and under-insured households. It provides a temporary place to stay while their properties are cleaned up, repaired or rebuilt.
Onsite temporary accommodation options may be available for up to 3 years.
You can apply for temporary accommodation if you are unable to live in your home due to the bushfires.
You may be eligible for temporary accommodation if you:
- cannot return home because it is damaged or destroyed, and
- do not have building or contents insurance or are under-insured, and
- have no alternative accommodation options.
Temporary accommodation options may include:
- a caravan or modular home placed on your property or at another agreed location
- a rent relief grant to help you pay for rental accommodation.
To apply for accommodation support, contact the Emergency Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760. Press 9 for an interpreter or call Translating and Interpretation Service (TIS) on 131 450.
Recovery support officers will work with you to understand your needs.