Community Living Supports (CLS)

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1. What is CLS?
2. ​How does CLS work?
3. What types of support are available?
4. Are there any target groups for the program?
5. How much support is available?
6. Who is eligible for CLS?
7. Who can make referrals to CLS?
8. Where can I get more information about CLS?
9. Who do I contact to make a referral?

What is CLS?

Community Living Supports (CLS) is a holistic and culturally responsive service that builds on the strengths and aspirations of people with severe mental health conditions, working together to create meaningful goals and personal change for a fulfilling life within their communities. It is available state-wide and is part of a suite of community-based psychosocial programs for adults called the NSW Mental Health Community Living Programs. 

Note: The Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI) started in 2002 and provided the same types of supports as CLS. HASI and CLS were combined into a single program called 'Community Living Supports' on 1 July 2026.

How does CLS work?

Community managed organisations (CMOs) provide community-based psychosocial supports that complement the clinical mental health services you receive from a local health district (LHD) or another organisation or clinician, like an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation or GP.

CMO staff will help you to identify and prioritise goals that are meaningful and personally tailored to your values and needs. Your personal goals, needs and how they change over time will be documented in an Individual Support Plan. This helps the CMO plan your supports including the hours and types of supports they will provide you to help you meet your goals.

Are there any target groups for the program?

When there are limited places available in CLS, priority will be given to people based on the severity of their illness, circumstances or needs. 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 each region. 

How much support is available?

Support is tailored to each person, putting you first and increasing choice. The hours and types of support you receive will vary based on your needs and goals that are outlined in your Individual Support Plan and your other clinical supports.

Support hours may change as often as week to week. The minimum is 5 hours of support per week and the maximum is 40 hours per week.

Who is eligible for CLS?

People are eligible for CLS if they meet the following criteria:

• Diagnosis – be clinically assessed as having a severe mental illness with high levels of psychosocial impairment (exceptions are in place for Aboriginal people, people aged 16-24, and refugees or people seeking asylum)
• Age – at least 16 years old (people aged 15 to 24 could be referred to Youth Community Living Support Services in areas where it is available)
• Location – live in an area of NSW where CLS services are offered and stay there for some time so that you can meet with a local support provider
• Experience – high levels of complex needs and need for high levels of psychosocial support
• Consent/desire to engage – you want to receive support, engage in the program, and recover and achieve goals, and consent to being referred to and participating in the program
• Other programs – not accessing another program that provides the same support (although you may also access the NDIS as long as duplicate services are not provided).

There are CLS-like programs for specific population groups, including:

• Youth Community Living Support Services (YCLSS)
• Mental Health Community Living Supports for Refugees (MH-CLSR)
• HASI Plus.

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Who can make referrals to CLS?

Most people are referred to CLS by the local health district inpatient or community mental health team that provides their clinical care, but there are no restrictions on who can refer people to CLS. People can refer themselves or be referred by other groups, such as:

• Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs)
• GPs, private clinicians, and Primary Health Networks
• other agencies such as the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (including Homes NSW and Corrective Services NSW)
• social housing providers
• family and carers
• other services such as specialist homelessness and domestic and family violence services.

Where can I get more information about CLS?

You can learn more about how CLS works, the outcomes it can help people achieve and the recent service model review and grant process by following the links below:

• CLS Service Model - this provides direction for community managed organisations and local health districts delivering the CLS program.
• Evaluation of CLS and HASI 2022 – this summarises the findings from the independent evaluation of CLS and HASI that was published in 2022 by the Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC), University of NSW. 
• CLS Service Model review process – this explains the process used to review the service model in 2024 and 2025.
• CLS Open Grant Opportunity – this explains the process for the CLS Open Grant Opportunity including the outcomes.

Who do I contact to make a referral?

To refer yourself or someone you support to CLS, please contact one of the CLS providers in your local health district. Contact details for each district are listed to help you connect with your local service.

Find your local Community Living Supports contact