Boarding Houses

Our boarding houses provide a safe and secure accommodation entry point for people who are at risk of homelessness because of a range of factors including family breakdown, unemployment, domestic violence, drug and alcohol misuse, low income and social isolation.

Our four boarding houses range from room-only with shared facilities through to self-contained units with kitchenettes and an ensuite bathroom. They are generally a transitional housing option enabling people to build their capacity and move into more stable and independent accommodation options within the community.

Boarding houses provide an opportunity to build confidence and a sense of wellbeing, participate in community life and further develop independent living skills.

Unity has four boarding houses located in the inner city of Adelaide:

  • The Terrace is a mixed gender site with 95 rooms (staffed 24/7)
  • Citi Hall is a male-only site with six rooms
  • Gilles Lodge is a female-only site with 11 rooms
  • Hurtle Square is a female-only site with five rooms

Unity works closely with our support partner agencies to facilitate successful tenancies. Boarding house tenants can access both in-house and community-based support and assistance including financial counselling, legal assistance, recreation and leisure activities, cooking and nutrition and health management.

To read our Guidelines for Living in Unity Boarding House Accommodation, click here.

To read our brochure, Unity’s Boarding Houses, click here.

Am I eligible for boarding house accommodation?

To be eligible you must:

  • Be 18 years of age or over
  • Be a low income earner (proof of income required)
  • Be able to live independently (and be linked with supports)
  • Have the ability and commitment to comply with the lease and Boarding House Guidelines for Living

Our boarding houses do not provide emergency and crisis accommodation or case management services.

How to apply for boarding house accommodation

To apply for boarding house accommodation and be eligible for referral, you will need to be referred by one of the support agencies listed below or homelessness support service with which you are a client:

  • Catherine House (Supported accommodation services for women experiencing homelessness who are 18 years and older, and unaccompanied by children)
  • Hutt St Centre (Eastern Adelaide Generic Homelessness Service – EAGHS and Aged City Living – HACC)
  • OARS Community Transitions (Ex-Custodial Homelessness Support Service – ECHSS, Perpetrator Housing Service – PHS, support for persons who are incarcerated, recently released from custody or interfacing with the criminal justice system)
  • Salvation Army Towards Independence (Homelessness, substance misuse and mental health concerns)

The agency will assist you to complete the application form and submit it to Unity on your behalf. If eligible, you will be required to attend an interview to assess your application prior to being placed on our waiting list. Your support worker may be required to attend the interview with you.

You can download the application form here or contact a support agency or homelessness support service and become a client of that agency.

It is important that you keep your contact details up to date so we can get in touch with you if a suitable room becomes available. Housing is in limited supply, so please ensure you keep exploring all housing options.

What happens next?

If approved, your application will be placed on the waiting list. You will be considered and contacted if a suitable vacancy becomes available.

Mark shares his story about his experience as a Unity Housing tenant: