Housing Pathways

There isn’t one single pathway to housing after leaving an unsafe situation. Most women move through a mix of emergency, short-term and longer-term housing while they work towards something stable. This page is designed to help you understand how housing works after leaving, what your options are, and what to do next at each stage.

A few important things to know:

Homelessness isn’t always visible. It can include couch surfing, living in a car or staying somewhere unsafe because there are no other options.
Crisis accommodation is temporary. It can help you get safe quickly, but it’s not a long-term situation on its own.
Stable housing can take time. Waiting lists are long and private rentals can be hard to access.
You don’t have to figure everything out at once. Most women move through housing in stages, one step at a time.

If you need immediate help, call DVConnect on 1800 811 811 or 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732. You can also use The Handy Guide service directory to find Queensland-based housing, domestic violence and financial support services.

Jump to:

Housing options
Crisis accommodation
Short-term housing
Long-term housing
Housing for older women
Common questions

Understanding your housing options after leaving

Finding somewhere safe to live after leaving a relationship can feel overwhelming, especially when everything else is uncertain. For many women, housing becomes the biggest question – not just where to stay, but how long it will last, what you can afford and what happens next.

For many women, housing happens in stages:

Crisis accommodation (emergency accommodation or staying somewhere for immediate safety)
Short-term housing (temporary or supported accommodation)
Longer-term housing (private rental, social housing or other options)

You might move through these quickly, or stay in one stage for a while. Some women move back and forth between stages. The main thing to remember is that you don’t need to have the final outcome sorted straight away; just the next safe step.

Start here: where are you right now?

The next step depends on what you need most right now.

If you need to leave immediately, your focus is emergency safety.
If you have somewhere temporary, your focus is short-term options and support.
If you’re ready for something more stable, your focus is longer-term housing pathways.

Crisis accommodation

If you need to leave quickly and don’t know where you’ll stay, the first priority is safety.

In Queensland, this usually means accessing crisis or emergency accommodation. This can include women’s refuges, short-term motel stays arranged through services, or supported accommodation through organisations like the SalvationArmy, Anglicare and specialist domestic violence shelters.

If you’re in Brisbane, services that can help you understand what’s available and connect you to the right option include:

HART4000 in Fortitude Valley (07 3004 0100)
3rd Space in Fortitude Valley (07 3254 1144)
Micah Projects in West End (07 3036 4444)

You can also call the Homeless Hotline (1800 47 47 53) which connects you to emergency housing and support services. If your situation involves domestic and family violence, DVConnect (1800 811 811) can provide crisis support, safety planning and help with accommodation.

It’s important to be realistic about what’s available. Same-day accommodation is often limited, even through support services. That doesn’t mean help isn’t there; it means you may need to work through a few options with support before something becomes available.

This stage can feel frantic, but emergency accommodation is usually just the first step. It’s there to create immediate safety while you work through what comes next.

Meet the team guiding people through referrals, advocacy and access to emergency housing.

Short-term housing

Short-term housing is a stage that many women move through while they work out what comes next.

This might include:

Staying in crisis accommodation beyond the first few nights (such as refuges or motel placements arranged through services)
Moving between temporary places, including couch surfing with friends or family
Accessing transitional or supported housing programs
Staying in boarding houses or renting a room as a stopgap
Short-term leases or informal arrangements that aren’t secure or long-term

It can feel like a patchwork of options, and in many cases, it is. This stage is often where women feel stuck – not because they’ve done anything wrong, but because the system is complex, availability is limited and stable housing takes time to secure.

You may move through more than one temporary arrangement before things stabilise. That’s common, and it reflects the reality of a housing system under pressure, where crisis accommodation is short-term, social housing has long waitlists, and private rentals can be difficult to access.

Support services can help you navigate this stage and work towards something more stable, but placements are not always immediate. They need to balance safety, suitability and availability, which can take time.

If you’re in this stage, it can help to focus on your next step rather than the entire pathway – what support is available right now, and what might help you move forward from here.

Long-term housing

Long-term housing is where things start to stabilise, but getting here can take time, especially in the current housing market. For most women, this stage means working towards something more secure and sustainable, rather than moving between temporary places.

The main long-term options include:

Private rentals – Renting through the private market (real estate agents or landlords). This offers the most independence, but it can be expensive, competitive and difficult to access without stable income, rental history or references. Explore support like RentConnect, bond loans and rent assistance, and get help preparing your application.
Public or community housing – Government-subsidised housing for people on low incomes or with higher needs. Public housing is managed by the government, while community housing is run by not-for-profit organisations. In most cases, you apply through the same system and may be considered for both. Apply as early as possible and ask about priority access if you’re leaving a violent situation, as wait times can be long.
Alternative long-term options – This can include share housing, renting a room or accessing specialised housing options such as youth foyers or housing for older women.

What might affect your options

Your pathway will depend on your situation. Some of the biggest factors include:

Money and affordability (your income, savings and access to financial support)
Children (schooling, custody and safety considerations)
Age (older women and young people may have access to specific housing programs)
Support networks (whether you have somewhere safe to stay or people who can help)

A practical guide to RentConnect, rent assistance, bond loans and other programs that can help you secure and maintain housing.

Housing for older women

Older women are one of the fastest-growing groups experiencing housing insecurity in Australia. For many, this comes after major life changes like separation, loss of a partner, illness or financial disruption. It can be especially confronting because many women in this position have never needed to navigate the housing system before.

There are also structural factors at play. A lifetime of lower earnings, time spent in unpaid care roles, and limited superannuation can make it harder to compete in a tight rental market or absorb rising costs. As a result, housing insecurity can happen quickly, and often without warning.

The good news is that there are supports and housing options designed specifically for older women. These can include:

Age-appropriate social or community housing, where rent is based on income and properties are designed for long-term stability
Specialised support programs, such as the Housing Older Women’s Support Service (HOWSS), which help women navigate housing applications, paperwork and next steps
Shared housing initiatives, where older women choose to live together to reduce costs and increase stability
Financial support, including bond loans, rental grants and concessions to help manage the cost of living
Community-led programs and resources, which provide guidance, connection and practical help navigating the system

For many women, the biggest barrier to housing can be confusion about where to start, and the challenge of trying to navigate a complex system alone. If this is your situation, reach out to a support service who can walk alongside you and help you move from uncertainty to something more stable.

Facing housing stress in later life? Explore rental help, support services and community resources available to older women across Queensland.

Common questions about housing after leaving

Where can I go if I have nowhere to stay tonight?

If you need somewhere safe urgently, contact a domestic violence or homelessness service. In Queensland, DVConnect (1800 811 811) can help with crisis accommodation for women escaping violence. You can also call the Homeless Hotline (1800 47 47 53), which connects you to emergency housing and support services. Same-day accommodation can be limited, but support services can help you work through the safest available options.

What happens after crisis accommodation?

Crisis accommodation is usually short-term. After that, most women move into a mix of temporary or transitional housing while working towards something more stable. This stage can involve multiple services, applications and waiting periods. It’s common to move through more than one option before securing long-term housing.

How long does it take to get social housing in Queensland?

Wait times for social housing can vary significantly depending on your circumstances, location and level of need. In many areas, waitlists are long. If you’re leaving domestic violence, you may be eligible for priority housing, but this still depends on availability. Applying early and getting support with your application can help.

Can I get help for rent if I’m struggling?

Yes. There are several forms of support available, including Services Australia (Centrelink) Rent Assistance, bond loans, rental grants and no-interest loans. Services like RentConnect can also help you find and apply for rentals, improve your application and connect you with real estate agents.

What if I don’t have a rental history or references?

You’re not alone. Many women leaving unsafe situations don’t have a strong rental history.

Support services can help you build an application, provide references or advocate on your behalf. Programs like RentConnect are specifically designed to help people in this situation access the private rental market.

What if I have to go back to an unsafe place because I can’t find housing?

This happens more often than people realise, especially in a tight housing market. It doesn’t mean you’ve failed. If this is happening, reach out to a support service like DVConnect (1800 811 811). They can help reassess your situation, explore new options and support you to leave again more safely when the time is right.