High Needs packages are intended to assist individuals across NSW aged 18 years plus who are being supported through the Together Home program.
These packages aim to provide services with the additional resource required to support people with complex, co-occurring issues who require intensive support.
The aim of high needs packages is to promote personal recovery and social inclusion. This may involve the provision of additional case management and specialist services such as:
Please note that the allocations of HNPs for participants in Tranches 1, 2 and 3 of the Together Home program have been exhausted.
Unspent funds from closed HNPs will be reallocated to Together Home participants with unmet high needs when they become available. In this process, individuals will not be receiving access to a full package of $78,000 over the 2 years but will be approved for one-off funding grant for individual supports as requested. Services will be advised if and how much funding is available for reallocation in the notification for each HNP round.
Homelessness NSW is facilitating the application process for high need support packages through the High Needs panel.
The High Needs panel includes representatives from The Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), Health, National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), Aboriginal representatives and individuals with lived expertise. The role of panel members is the prioritisation and allocation of funding.
The panel reviews referrals to ensure:
The panel meet every month and will operate a rolling process of referrals.
Please note, where an individual has a VI-SPDAT score of 15 + this indicates the existence of multiple and complex factors that suggest an individual may benefit from a high needs package. The VI-SPAT score is not a sole deciding factor, referrals can be considered where an individual has a smaller number of acute needs that seriously impact their housing stability.
Individuals who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander will be prioritised for high needs packages and will receive at least a third of the overall total of packages and one-off funding grants allocated.
Round 22: November 2022
Round 23: December 2022
Homelessness NSW aims to provide acknowledgment that a referral has been received 5 days prior to every panel meeting. Referring agencies are provided details of decisions within 5 working days of a panel meeting taking place.
If it becomes evident that a current support package is not meeting the needs of an individual and additional support is required, it may be appropriate to consider making a referral.
It is essential that all individuals referred to the panel have provided informed consent and that a VI-SPDAT has been completed. Referrals will be accepted from Community Housing Providers funded for the Together Home program or contracted support services.
The referral process is designed to capture all the key information that is required by the panel to assist decision making and should include:
All of the forms and templates are below in our ‘Resources’ Section. You can also view our sample case study, which gives you an example of a clients journey through the high needs package process.
Homelessness NSW will contact you within 5 days of the panel meeting.
If a Package is not approved:
If a Package is approved:
All funding allocated to a High Needs Package is managed via the existing contract management arrangements in place between the Community Housing Provider and DCJ.
To view an overview of 2020-21 click here
To view an overview of Quarter 1 of 2021-22 click here
To view an overview of Quarter 2 of 2021-22 click here
The Together Home program uses Housing First principles to provide stability for people who are sleeping rough with the aim of building individual capacity and capabilities.
Key objectives of the program include:
The Sydney Women’s Homelessness Alliance (SWHA) has been established to assist cross agency sector collaboration and improve a woman’s journey through the complexities of the homelessness system.
