Council to Homeless Persons welcomes Victoria’s commitment to inject an extra $2.5 million into the Housing Establishment Fund to alleviate pressure on frontline services.
The additional funding means services will be able to provide financial support for more people who are at risk of homelessness as well as helping those experiencing homelessness to find a bed for the night.
CHP CEO Deborah Di Natale says the $2.5 million, which will take the fund to $15 million, will help ease the burden on overstretched frontline services struggling to keep up with demand.
“When somebody comes to a homelessness service for help, the priority is to save their existing tenancy or provide a safe place to stay short-term while helping to find a new home,” she said.
“The HEF funding is vital to ensuring women and children experiencing family violence have immediate accommodation while they plan their next steps.
“With too little funding available, homelessness services have been unable to provide that short-term accommodation to some of the people who need it.
“While the $2.5 million will mean we can provide immediate relief to more people, it’s still important to bolster the pathways into homes as well.
“Victoria must also build 6,000 new public and community homes each year so that pathways out of short-term accommodation are available.
“The best way to tackle this crisis is to prevent homelessness before someone ends up sleeping in a vehicle, on the street or on someone’s couch.
“We want to congratulate Minister Shing on this much needed funding.”
The Housing Establishment Fund supports people with short term accommodation, funding to save their existing tenancy, or help to set up a new home.