One thousand new public housing properties will be built to help get more Victorians off the streets and into a home of their own, so they can turn their lives around.
The Victorian Budget 2019/20 includes $209 million for public housing, delivering on our promise to build 1,000 new homes over the next three years. The new properties will be built in Geelong and Ballarat, as well as the Darebin, Maribyrnong, Stonnington and Whitehorse council areas in Melbourne.
We’re also helping more people who are homeless to find a safe place to stay, with more than $50.4 million for homelessness services.
This will see more on-site treatment services in crisis-supported accommodation, private rental assistance for over 6,000 Victorians who need it and the continuation of state-wide homelessness after-hours crisis services.
Another $103.5 million in matched funding will be provided through the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement to provide funding certainty for 48 agencies delivering services to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness – including early intervention, housing and support, and homelessness prevention.
Family violence is a major contributor to homelessness, so this Budget invests an additional $23.9 million to prioritise women and children escaping family violence and ensure they continue to receive the housing support they need.
A further $8.9 million, in addition to the $21.9 million already funded, will continue the Government’s work servicing and replacing gas heaters to ensure public housing tenants are living in safely heated properties.
While we increase and upgrade public housing across Victoria, the successful Better Apartments program will also be extended to Melbourne’s suburbs through a $4.6 million commitment to improve the liveability and sustainability of apartments outside of the CBD area.
We are also investing $20.5 million to preserve Victoria’s most culturally and historically significant places through Heritage Victoria’s Living Heritage Program.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Planning and Minister for Housing Richard Wynne
“We promised to build 1,000 new homes to give Victorians who need it most a home of their own and we are keeping that promise.”
“Getting a job or studying is nearly impossible if you’re living on the street – we’re building more public housing to make sure Victorians get the opportunity to build a new life.”
“We know that women fleeing family violence often find themselves with nowhere to go – that's why we’re prioritising them and their kids so they can get the shelter and the services they need.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020