Labor is taking further action to tackle homelessness and support more Victorians into safe and secure housing.
Premier Ben Carroll and Minister for Homelessness Nick Staikos today announced the comprehensive plan backed by an investment of $24.8 million to deliver a new plan to strengthen Victoria’s response to rough sleeping.
The plan will leverage existing funding and introduce new measures to respond to rough sleeping, get people housed and keep people housed.
The plan outlines:
- The roll out of coordinated by-name lists and an online triage system to help direct resources, prioritise rough sleepers most in need, and collate data and insights
- New complex care coordinators working across the state to lead multi-agency support and client referrals to reduce wait-times for support
- The expansion of assertive outreach workers to every area of the state
- Expanded Housing First tenancy supports for an extra 1,000 people at risk of homelessness
- Addressing youth homelessness in metropolitan and regional Victoria by providing ongoing operational funding for crucial centres
This plan builds on significant investment already underway, including the Big Housing Build, Housing First responses such as supportive housing, Homes First and Journey to Social Inclusion, and the expansion of programs to support tenancy.
More than 6,000 people sleeping rough have been supported since the launch of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Plan in 2018. More than 1,200 households have benefited from a Housing First response.
Ten new assertive outreach services will also be delivered in Brimbank, Shepparton, Hume, Whitehorse, Latrobe, Darebin, Bairnsdale, Maribyrnong, Wodonga and Mornington Peninsula as part of a $27.8 million investment.
This is in addition to the Labor Government’s $400 million funding for specialist homelessness services – more than any other State.
Under a Liberal-One Nation Coalition, there is no plan – just the promise of billions of dollars in cuts leaving Victoria’s most vulnerable people worse off.
As stated by Premier Ben Carroll
“Every Victorian deserves a safe place to call home. This comprehensive plan backs in the people and services making that happen.”
As stated by Minister for Homelessness Nick Staikos
“Our homelessness response spans the full continuum – from outreach and crisis accommodation to supportive housing and social homes.”
“This plan finds new ways to maximise our investment and tackle this confronting, increasingly visible issue.”
