$42 Million to Reduce Homelessness in Victoria

Six new flagship projects to reduce homelessness form the centrepiece of a new $42 million Victorian Government’s strategy announced by Premier, John Brumby.

Announcing the strategy, Premier Brumby says the Victorian Government has led the national agenda on homelessness and housing over the past 10 years.

However, he says with more than 20,000 Victorian men, women and children estimated to be without a home on any given night, the government needs to do more to help these people get back on their feet.

He says the $42 million A Better Place strategy places a greater focus on prevention and early intervention to help address the causes of homelessness.

The funding would implement six, four-year flagship projects, an employment program and a private rental brokerage fund.

The government says the new strategy moves away from the previous ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach and aims to get to the root of the homelessness problem.

The six flagship projects are:

• Family homelessness – this will work with around 250 individuals, including children, to ensure children stay in school and families secure and maintain affordable housing;
• Family violence – this project will build on already established work undertaken through recent family violence services reforms to ensure families receive legal services and safe accommodation and financial counselling;
• Young people – this aims to support young people to attend and complete secondary school and develop positive family or adult relationships; 
• Adults experiencing short term homelessness – working alongside Centrelink staff this project will focus on providing income and housing support along with links to employment or vocational training;
• Adults experiencing long term homelessness – this project will provide and coordinate resources to meet the needs of long term homeless adults, including health and housing needs; and
• Older people – this project will provide and coordinate a range of services, including housing and support services such as meals, transport and assistance with shopping and cleaning to assist older people to maintain housing tenancy.

Retired Salvation Army Major David Eldridge will chair the Ministerial Advisory Committee overseeing the implementation and evaluation of the strategy.