Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI)

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​About HASI​​

The Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI) is a state wide program that supports people with a severe mental illness to live and recover in the community in the way that they want to. HASI is part of a suite of community-based psychosocial programs for adults called the NSW Mental Health Community Living Programs.

What types of supports are provided?

People receiving HASI supports will work with:

  • a support worker from a community organisation
  • a clinician of their choice or from a local mental health service,
  • their family or other important people in their life to develop their own unique support plan.

HASI provides psychosocial supports that help people build independence in daily life and contribute to recovery. The types of support people receive depends on their individual needs and own unique goals for what they want to achieve. HASI helps people identify goals and work towards meeting those goals by providing support that may include:

  • daily living skills like self care, shopping, looking after finances, cooking or catching public transport
  • referral to mental and physical health services where needed and support with mental and physical health appointments, medication management and other treatments
  • participating in social, leisure or sporting activities
  • building relationships with family, friends and the local communities
  • learning new skills
  • accessing education or help to get a job
  • help with finding and keeping housing including private or social/community housing
  • moving back into the community from a hospital or a prison
  • accessing other supports like alcohol and other drugs services and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

How much support can I get?

The amount of HASI support you can receive is flexible and can change over time to meet your needs.

When things are going well, you may only need a few hours of support a week, but there may be times when you are finding things are difficult or distressing, and it would be helpful to get more support.

Do I get housing as part of the program?

Accommodation is not provided as part of the HASI program and you are not automatically eligible for public or community housing because you are receiving HASI supports. HASI can provide support to help you find or keep your housing. This can include helping you apply for housing with the Department of Communities and Justice.

Would I be eligible for HASI?

You may be eligible for HASI support if you:

  • are 16 years or older
  • have a diagnosis of a mental illness which causes you difficulties in your day to day life
  • want to receive help to develop and achieve your goals.

Your local provider can give you more information about the criteria for the program.

Are there any target groups for the program?

When there are limited places available in HASI, priority will be given to people based on the severity of their illness, circumstances or need. This can include people from target groups who:

  • are Aboriginal
  • are refugees or asylum seekers
  • live in public or community housing, or a boarding house
  • are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
  • are at risk of being hospitalised
  • are in hospital for longer than needed because of their high support needs
  • need help keeping their housing because they need more support to manage their mental health issues
  • are leaving a correctional facility or in contact with the community justice system, such as being on parole or serving a community-based detention order
  • qualify as a local priority group as agreed in region.

Where can I get more information about the program?

Your local HASI provider is able to provide you with more information about HASI, including how to access or refer someone into the program.

You can contact your local HASI provider using the below contact information. If you are unsure about which local health district you are in, further information can be found at Local Health Districts and Specialty Networks.

Local health districts

Albury

Wellways

Email: enquiries@wellways.org Phone: 1300 111 400

Central Coast Local Health District

Neami

Email: Centralcoast@neaminational.org.au Phone: 02 8416 1180

New Horizons

Email: mywellbeing@newhorizons.org.au Phone: 1300 726 372

Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District

Flourish

Email: referrals@flourishaustralia.org.au Phone: 1300 779 270

Neami

Email: nepean@neaminational.org.au Phone: (02) 8416 1190

Hunter New England Local Health District

Flourish

Email: referrals@flourishaustralia.org.au Phone: 1300 779 270

Uniting

Email: ask@uniting.org Phone: 1800 864 846

Mid North Coast Local Health District

New Horizons

Email: mywellbeing@newhorizons.org.au Phone: 1300 726 372

Neami

Email: midnorthcoast@neaminational.org.au
Phone: 02 6583 3443

Far West Local Health District

Flourish

Email: referrals@flourishaustralia.org.au Phone: 1300 779 270

Mission Australia

Email: CentralAndFarWestNSW@missionaustralia.com.au
Phone: 08 8084 3700

Murrumbidgee Local Health District

Flourish

Email: referrals@flourishaustralia.org.au Phone: 1300 779 270

Wellways

Email: enquiries@wellways.org Phone: 1300 111 400

Northern NSW Local Health District

Wellways

Email: enquiries@wellways.org Phone: 1300 111 400

Open Minds

Email: referrals@openminds.org.au Phone: 02 5699 9999

North Sydney Local Health District

New Horizons

Email: mywellbeing@newhorizons.org.au Phone: 1300 726 372

Mission Australia

Email: HASINorthernSydney@missionaustralia.com.au
Phone: (02) 9699 4879

South Western Sydney Local Health District

Neami

Email: intake.southwestsydney@neaminational.org.au
Phone: (02) 4627 8444 (Campbelltown)
(02) 9134 1280 (Liverpool)

Wellways

Email: enquiries@wellways.org Phone: 1300 111 400

New Horizons

Email: mywellbeing@newhorizons.org.au
Phone: 1300 726 372

Western NSW Local Health Distict

Wellways

Email: enquiries@wellways.org Phone: 1300 111 400

Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District

Grand Pacific

Website: Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI)
Phone: 1800 228 987

Neami

Email: wollongong@neaminational.org.au Phone: (02) 4226 3277

Southern NSW Local Health District

Flourish

Email: referrals@flourishaustralia.org.au Phone: 1300 779 270

Wellways

Email: enquiries@wellways.org Phone: 1300 111 400

South Eastern Sydney Local Health District

New Horizons

Email: mywellbeing@newhorizons.org.au Phone: 1300 726 372

Mission Australia

Email: HASIEasternSydneyReferrals@missionaustralia.com.au Phone: 02 9508 3600

Sydney Local Health District

Flourish

Email: referrals@flourishaustralia.org.au Phone: 1300 779 270

Mission Australia

Email: hasiinnerwestreferrals@missionaustralia.com.au Phone: 02 8775 6100

Western Sydney Local Health District

Flourish

Email: referrals@flourishaustralia.org.au Phone: 1300 779 270

Neami

Email: intake.westernsydney@neaminational.org.au Phone: (02) 8416 1185 (Lidcombe)


HASI/CLS Evaluation 2022

The Ministry commissioned the Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC) at UNSW to evaluate the HASI/CLS programs. The 3-year longitudinal evaluation ran from November 2017 to January 2020, with final analysis completed in 2021.

HASI started in 2002 and has been running for over 20 years. The evaluation results show that HASI and CLS are making a real difference to people's lives.  There is evidence that the programs help people to improve their mental health and wellbeing, think about their physical health, connect more with their local community and to reduce hospitalisations because of their mental health. We are very proud of the achievements of the HASI and CLS programs.​

​HASI and CLS Service Model Review 2025-26

In preparation for the 2025-26 open tender process for the Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI) and Community Living Supports (CLS) program​, the Mental Health Branch (the Branch) is partnering with the Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI) and H4 Consulting to engage key stakeholders to review and refresh the landmark HASI/CLS model.

ACI and H4 Consulting will provide specialist skills to undertake the review as a two-part review process. Part A will be to conduct a review of the current service model and its operation principles. Part B will be to conduct a pricing review of current pricing ​structures and benchmarks.

Conducting a comprehensive review of the HASI/CLS service model and pricing structure with ACI and H4 Consulting allows for the service model review to be conducted by independent parties, ensuring a refreshed and contemporary approach is agreed prior to an open tender in 2025-26.

Current as at: Wednesday 27 November 2024
Contact page owner: Mental Health