November’s Victorian election is a crucial choice for our political representatives, and for the voters of our state.
Record numbers of Victorians are coming to homelessness services. In a dual housing and cost of living crisis, people from all walks of life now need assistance: working Victorians who are making great sacrifices but still struggling to pay the rent; women and children leaving family violence; young people who should be dreaming their futures but instead are worrying where they’ll sleep tonight; and older Victorians who after a lifetime of contributing to society now find themselves couch-surfing or sleeping rough.
Homelessness can happen to anyone, and the human cost is tragic: people experiencing homelessness in Australia die at an average age of just 44.
The good news is that we know how to end homelessness. The evidence is clear and the models are available – some have been achieved overseas, and many others right here in Victoria.
What’s been missing is the decisive government investment to implement those solutions at scale.
So this election, we ask Victoria’s political candidates to choose to prioritise the forward-thinking, community-building responses that will end homelessness, as outlined CHP’s Election Priorities Guide.
And we ask Victorians to choose to give their votes to those candidates who put housing fairness first.