The contacts below offer a variety of services, usually free and confidential, to help with food, bills, rent, and managing debt.
Beside general and emergency support there are also services to help with:
General and emergency support
| Name & website | Phone | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Relief and Food Access Service (ERFAS) help with food, paying rent or bills. | 1800 979 777 | |
| WA Rent Relief Program offers a single payment of up to $5,000 per household, supporting private tenants to continue their tenancy. | 1800 979 777 Select option 3 to speak to the Rent Relief Triage Team | |
| Financial Counsellors’ Association of Western Australia Financial counsellors are qualified professionals who provide information, advice and advocacy to people in financial difficulty. They provide free, independent and confidential services. | 1800 007 007 | |
| The National Debt Helpline A not-for-profit service helping people with their debt problems. Their professional financial counsellors offer a free, independent and confidential service. | 1800 007 007 | mymoneysteps@nationaldebtline.org |
| Consumer Credit Legal Service Free legal advice in the areas of credit, banking and finance. | (08) 9221 7066 | cclswa@cclswa.org.au |
| Uniting WA Emergency Relief | 9220 1255 call at exactly 11am Tuesday to Friday and leave your name and number | |
| Anglicare Free-call Emergency Relief and Food Access Service. | 1800 979 777 from 9:30am - 5pm (Monday to Friday) | |
| Vinnies Emergency Assistance and Support for assistance in the Perth Metropolitan area. | 1300 794 054 weekdays 9am – 12.30pm | |
| The Salvation Army Essential services such as food, shelter, addiction recovery, and support for vulnerable individuals and families. | 13 72 58 (08) 9260 9591 | perthfortress@salvationarmy.org.au |
| HUGS Grant - Hardship Utility Grant Scheme helps customers in financial hardship with their connection to essential services eg. power and water. | ||
| National Debt Helpline A not-for-profit service that helps people tackle their debt problems. | 1800 007 007 | |
| Spiers Centre Provides emergency relief in the form of food parcels and vouchers and part payment of utility bills. | 9401 2699 | info@thespierscentre.com.au |
| Mission Australia: Emergency Relief – Perth South East Emergency relief helps people to address their immediate basic needs in times of financial crisis or hardship through material or financial aid. | 9262 4200 | |
| Communicare Emergency Assistance Emergency Assistance program helps people experiencing financial hardship through the provision of vouchers. | 9251 5777 | info@communicare.org.au |
Uniting Aid is a caring agency of the Uniting Church. They assist clients in the local government area of the City of Stirling, who have current Centrelink or Health Cards, with emergency relief in the form of food, clothing, household goods, and some financial assistance with utility bills. | 9344 3840 | |
| No Limits Perth Helps people who are vulnerable or need assistance with essential items such as food hampers, pre-loved furniture, toiletries and other basic essentials. | 0490 676 979 | info@nolimitsperth.org.au |
| Accordwest Emergency relief for those who are facing financial hardship in the Southwest. | 1800 115 799 (08) 9729 9000 | clientservices@accordwest.com.au |
No interest loan schemes
No Interest Loan Schemes (NILS) are programs that provide small, interest-free loans to people on low incomes.
| Name & website | Phone | |
| Salvation Army Borrow up to $3,000 for bond and rent in advance. | (02) 6241 0518 | nils@salvationarmy.org.au |
| MercyCare No Interest Loan Scheme – FDV clients only Rent advance, and bond for new leases or utilities for FDV clients only. | 1800 268 472 | mls@mercycare.com.au |
| Anglicare WA No Interest Loan Scheme Loans up to $2,000 for eligible low income earners. | 1300 11 44 46 | info@anglicarewa.org.au |
Support for paying bills
| Name & website | Phone | |
| Department of Housing and Works bond assistance loans offers bond assistance and two weeks' rent in advance as an interest-free loan to help eligible people obtain accommodation in the private rental market. | ||
| Department of Communities HUGS The Hardship Utility Grant Scheme (HUGS) assists Western Australian utility customers who are in financial hardship and are unable to pay their utility bills. The purpose of HUGS is to assist customers in financial hardship with their connection to essential services. | hugs@communities.wa.gov.au | |
| Energy Ahead can help you take control of your energy use and bills through free energy coaching. Energy Ahead is free and available to eligible Synergy residential customers who are experiencing financial hardship. | (08) 6253 3500 | energyahead@thefwc.org.au |
| Water Corporation Water Corporation can help if you need help with your water bill. through their Financial Care Consultants. They can help assess your situation and guide you through available support programs. | 1300 650 471 |