Announcing details of the Further Housing Assistance Gift Stage 2, the chair of the Fund’s independent decision-making Panel, Pat McNamara, said households would be eligible for up to $50,000 to finalise the rebuilding of their homes, purchase a new home, or settle in to other long-term accommodation.

'More than half of the money raised by the Fund - about $220 million - has already been spent on rehousing and rebuilding payments to people whose homes were damaged or destroyed in the fires,' Mr McNamara said.

'Many of those people have successfully rebuilt their homes or bought new properties, but there are people out there who are yet to find permanent housing.

'The purpose of this Gift is to help these people find long-term accommodation that best meets their needs.'

Mr McNamara said VBAF had contracted three housing associations to manage the new Gift.

'The housing associations will work with the Department of Human Services, the Rebuilding Advisory Service, and other agencies and service providers to help eligible applicants find and move in to the most appropriate long-term accommodation,' he said.

'Approved households will have access to a range of support services - including financial or other counselling - to help them through the process.

'With the aid of the housing associations, eligible people will complete a Housing Plan which will detail their pathway, step by step, to permanent accommodation.'

Mr McNamara said there were limits to the level of support VBAF could provide.

'In the case of someone who is rebuilding, we will assist them to gain the Occupancy Permit on their rebuilt homes, as was the case for the Further Housing Assistance Gift Stage 1,' he said.

'For people who are purchasing, we will contribute to homes that are of a 'modest' and 'reasonable' standard.

'For some people, the most suitable accommodation option may be securing a long-term lease, or moving into an aged-care facility.

'We are asking anyone who is not yet in permanent accommodation to call the VBAF hotline on 1800 180 213 and register their details.'

Mr McNamara said VBAF remained committed to helping people finalise their living arrangements.

'The Fund, which was established by the Victorian Government in partnership with Australian Red Cross and the Commonwealth Government, has so far made more than 6000 payments to individuals and families whose homes were either destroyed or damaged in the 2009 Victorian bushfires,' he said.

'The Further Housing Assistance Gift Stage 1, which was announced in August this year, has already helped many families finalise the rebuilding of their homes, and we are continuing to assess applications for that Gift.

'We're hopeful that with Stage 2, we can assist all those people whose living arrangements are not yet finalised to find and settle in to permanent accommodation.

'If you are in this position, or know of friends and neighbours who are, let them know what's available and ask them to contact the VBAF hotline to register their details.'