- Published:
- Sunday 19 November 2023
The Allan Labor Government is ensuring more Victorians in need have access to emergency accommodation – with a boost to take pressure off homelessness entry points.
A $2.5 million boost will help meet the increased demand for crisis and emergency accommodation – with the investment to be shared among 50 Specialist Homelessness Services and increase the Labor Government’s Homelessness Establishment Fund to more than $15 million this financial year alone.
The Fund is used by specialist homelessness services to help eligible Victorian access crisis and emergency accommodation if they have nowhere to stay and are at risk of rough sleeping – and can also be used to support private rental accommodation or other expenses in relocating and establishing housing.
Each year the Labor Government provides more than $300 million to Specialist Homelessness Services to support homelessness entry points, case management, outreach support, youth-specific homelessness initiatives, support to sustain tenancies, and Housing First responses including the From Homelessness to a Home program.
In the Victorian Budget 2023/24, the Labor Government invested $134 million in homelessness programs, including providing more multi-disciplinary support across five supportive housing services and specialist supports in four congregate crisis accommodation services.
Victoria’s specialist homelessness services are responding to the needs people experiencing or at risk of homelessness through more than 130 specialist homelessness agencies across the state, every year.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Housing Harriet Shing
“Homelessness is a complex issue – we are investing to make sure every Victorian at risk of homelessness gets the support they need and deserve.”
“We want to break the cycle of homelessness in Victoria, which means intervening early with wraparound support services to give Victorians a pathway out of homelessness.”
Quotes attributable to CEO Council to Homeless Persons Deb Di Natale
“This announcement means more Victorians in desperate need can be safely accommodated while Victoria’s hardworking homelessness services help them find a permanent home.”