Throughout September and October, the CHP Policy & Communications team travelled around Victoria hosting a series of sector Listening Forums in Ballarat, Bendigo, Horsham, Benalla, Gippsland (virtual), Geelong, Warrnambool and in metro Melbourne. These events, now in their second year, are essential opportunities for us to hear directly from frontline practitioners about their experiences and priorities. The insights they share will inform CHP’s Victorian Budget Submission, and much of our other advocacy in the year ahead.
So what did you tell us this year? Here it is…
The Top Ten asks we heard from the sector at the 2024 Listening Forums:
1. More social housing, and an increased variety of social housing (1 bedroom, 2 bedroom, 3-4 bedroom etc);
2. Address maintenance & repair issues in existing public housing;
3. Expand investment in high-fidelity Housing First;
4. Fund assertive outreach for rough sleeping;
5. Increase rental protection programs like PRAP and Tenancy Plus;
6. Better and expanded youth homelessness responses;
7. Invest in the SHS: long-term funding, increased wages, expand programs that work, incentivise people to join and stay in SHS;
8. Purpose-built crisis accommodation, including gender-specific accommodation;
9. Mandatory inclusionary zoning for new developments; and
10. Creative short-term solutions, including housing transfers, working with real estate agents/AirBnB, block-purchasing and renovating hotels etc.
Thanks to everyone who attended the Listening Forums. Look out for CHP’s Victorian Budget Submission, coming out in a few weeks time.