People who require urgent housing as a result of crisis will soon have more options as a result of innovative housing and homelessness projects created and funded by the Andrews Labor Government.
Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing Martin Foley inspected the site of a planned new youth accommodation refuge at Melbourne City Mission’s Frontyard Integrated Youth Service in King Street today.
Frontyard is one of the four projects to share in $25 million from the Andrews Labor Government’s Accommodation for the Homeless fund and is just the tip of the iceberg to address the urgent housing need.
The $50 million Rapid Housing Assistance Fund, which aims to provide at least 130 new social housing properties and 100 head-leased properties for an immediate increase in social housing stock, will help people in housing crisis as a result of family violence.
The expression of interest process for this fund close on Friday with the Government receiving more than 20 applications from the community housing sector.
The funds for the 230 social housing properties and at least 24 new beds at Frontyard are part of the $152 million housing blitz underway to address recommendations from the Royal Commission into Family Violence.
The Labor Government is committed to providing immediate housing and support for people in need and is focusing on early intervention to prevent homelessness.
We will also be working with the Family Violence Housing Assistance Implementation Taskforce on projects to build and redevelop family violence refuges, expand crisis accommodation, fund up to 230 new social housing homes within 12 months, and partner with agencies to help people access the private rental market.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing Martin Foley
“We are getting on with the job of helping people in urgent need of housing, particularly families and young people escaping violence.”
“The new accommodation for young people at Frontyard and for adults at Ozanam House in North Melbourne will provide much-needed support and a safe place to call home for people who might otherwise end up sleeping rough in the city.”
“I thank the homelessness and community housing sector for rising to the challenge to partner with us to urgently provide safe places for people to get support while they get their life back on track.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020