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Aboriginal Employment Related Accommodation Program

Aboriginal Employment Related Accommodation Program

Homes North manage the Employment Related Accommodation (ERA) program that has helped Aboriginal people from remote parts of our country get access to housing in Armidale and Tamworth to study or gain employment.

 

Homes North has been managing the ERA program on behalf of the Aboriginal Housing Office since 2010 in Armidale and Tamworth regions. We have had many successful tenancies for people needing homes to be able to study or to take up an employment opportunity. We currently manage properties in the Tamworth and Armidale areas.

 

The program provides affordable accommodation for two years for people who are working and for students for the length of their course.

ERA Program

If you have a connection to a remote area and you want to move to a regional area where there are more opportunities for work and study, the ERA program aims to assist you with secure and affordable accommodation for the duration of your education or training, or while you become established in your new job.

 

If you’re a single person taking up this option you will move into a fully furnished share-accommodation house. You will have your own room and share the living, kitchen, laundry and bathroom areas with other people in a similar situation.

 

If you have a family and you take up an opportunity to work or study in a regional centre, under the scheme, you can take your immediate family (spouse and children) with you. Accommodation is unfurnished so that you can bring your own belongings with you.

  • Easy application – one form is all that’s needed
  • Affordable rent
  • No real estate agents – finding a property in the general rental market in an area you are unfamiliar with can be daunting
  • Well maintained homes
  • Located in big towns – there are lots of work and study options
  • Shared living – without the hassle of finding housemates yourself
  • Fully furnished – if you’re single the house will be fully furnished
  • Safe and secure – unlike dormitories, the homes are safe and secure
  • Assist Aboriginal people to improve their economic future.
  • Assist to increase the number of Aboriginal people in full-time employment.
  • Assist to increase the number of Aboriginal people undertaking education and training.
  • Make housing more affordable to reduce barriers to moving to a regional area.
  • Make it easy to transition into private rental or home ownership.
  • Enables families to stay together when an opportunity for one family member might otherwise mean they would leave the family behind.

Rents are set to be affordable and in line with the cost of living.

 

Singles pay $135 per week for their room (as of July 2013).

 

Families are charged the AHO’s Build and Grow Aboriginal Community Housing Strategy (Build and Grow) rent for the whole house. This doesn’t exceed 25% of household income or market rent.

Applying for ERA

In order to apply for ERA accommodation, you must:

  • Be an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person
  • Be over 18 years old
  • Have a connection to a remote community
  • Prove your enrolment in an education or training course at an approved institution such as university or TAFE or
  • Show that the employer offers long-term opportunities
Application process

Applying for ERA is easy:

  1. Fill in the application form
  2. Gather any relevant documentation
    a) Birth certificate
    b) Confirmation of aboriginality
    c) Proof of enrolment at university, TAFE or other educational institution OR
    d) Letter of offer from your new employer
  3. Submit application form and supporting documents
How to apply

Click here to download the application form. You can also speak to your employer or educational institution for further information.

 

Once you have completed the application form, you can submit it to:

 

Applications
Employment Related Accommodation
Aboriginal Housing Office
PO Box W5 Westfield
Parramatta NSW 2150

 

You will be advised within 2 weeks if your application is successful.

 

If accepted, you will be contacted by the appropriate community housing provider who will help you settle in and will remain in contact with you on a regular basis.

 

For further information read the Frequently Asked Questions or contact us.

Download ERA PDF brochure

We are very proud of the tangible steps we are taking to improve our capacity to work effectively with Aboriginal staff, communities and Aboriginal organisations and businesses.

- Maree McKenzie, CEO Homes North