State Budget 2023–24: Priorities for the homelessness sector

20.02.23

Ahead of the 2023–24 State Budget announcements in May, Council to Homeless Persons has released our State Budget Submission outlining the priority investments the Victorian Government should take to achieve this. We are calling for these investments to take place within a new ten-year strategy to end homelessness in Victoria, which would provide a platform for actions and investments that would end – rather than simply manage – homelessness in our state.

Ending homelessness in Victoria starts with…

Investing in a ten-year strategy

Ending homelessness in Victoria requires action that both prevents homelessness – by addressing its complex drivers including poverty, family violence, and lack of affordable housing – and swiftly provides housing and support to people experiencing homelessness when it does occur.

The 2023–24 State Budget is the first since the 2022 election. The Victorian Government has pledged $3.75 million to support initiatives that assist people experiencing homelessness.

Yet, much more is needed to secure the necessary improvements and resources for Victoria’s housing and homelessness service system.

A ten-year strategy is the overarching call within our State Budget submission. This would involve multiple financial and policy levers to support people at risk of or experiencing homelessness, to grow social housing, and to ultimately end homelessness in Victoria.

Council to Homeless Persons has identified six priority investments in key areas, which together provide a platform for investment over the next four years and beyond, as part of this strategy.

Six priority investments

1. Housing First

Housing First is an impactful, cost-effective approach to addressing rough sleeping and homelessness. The Victorian Government began investing in Housing First at scale during the pandemic through its From Homelessness to a Home and Homes for Families programs, which hold the promise of delivering a nearly 90 per cent housing sustainment rate. If the Government does not renew funding, the program won’t continue and around 2,000 of Victoria’s most vulnerable households risk re-entering the cycle of long-term homelessness.

To ensure people rough sleeping have access to the long-term housing and support they need, the Victorian Government should:

invest an additional $47.5 million this year, to continue and grow the From Homeless to a Home program, supporting 2,100 households to sustain a home

continue to grow the From Homelessness to a Home program by investing a total of $224.2 million over four year

invest $3.6 million over four years to build the capacity of the Victorian homelessness services workforce to deliver evidence-informed, Housing First practice responses.

2. Social housing

Access to housing that people can afford is fundamental to addressing homelessness. The Big Housing Build is providing 9,300 new social housing properties, but 60,000 social housing properties are required over 10 years to address Victoria’s housing needs. Without it, Victoria will continue to have the lowest amount of social housing in the country proportional to population.

To ensure all Victorians who need social housing have timely access to appropriate housing, the Victorian Government should:

invest $203.1 million over four years to create 7,000 new social housing properties from the Commonwealth Government’s pledge of affordable housing

allocate 10% of these properties to an Aboriginal Community Controlled housing provider

invest a further $25.1 million to fund social housing modifications, opening up home for people with need for specific functional design features.

3. Housing for young people

One in six people seeking homelessness assistance in Victoria in 2021–22 were young people. Of those needing accommodation, over half did not receive it due to lack of housing options. Recognising the significant barriers young people face in accessing the current social housing system, over 60 community organisations recently called for more support and resources to ensure young people have access to appropriate housing and services.

To ensure young experiencing or at risk of homelessness can thrive into independent adulthood, the Victorian Government should:

invest $83.9 million over four years in an accommodation subsidy to establish 5,000 new social housing properties for young people

invest $2.7 billion over four years to build social housing properties for young people

invest $154.8 million over four years to provide support options that include family reconciliation, case management and youth Housing First approaches.

4. Aboriginal-led housing and homelessness services

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experiencing homelessness should have the right to choose an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation for their support. Mana-na woorn-tyeen maar-takoort, the Victorian Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Framework by Aboriginal Housing Victoria, outlines a sequence of priorities to build this new service system for Victoria. Stopping the cycle of imprisonment and homelessness of Aboriginal people is one of the initial priorities.

To ensure Aboriginal Victorians without a home can access an Aboriginal-specific homelessness system, the Victorian Government should:

invest $323.4 million in capital grants to build 600 properties for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people exiting prison and at risk of homelessness

invest $18.0 million over four years in Housing First support packages for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people exiting prison and at risk of homelessness

invest $9.5 million over four years for Aboriginal-specific workers and brokerage to support housing pathways in and out of prison.

5. Safe housing for trans and non-binary people

LGBTIQ+ Victorians experience homelessness at rates far higher than the general population. While society is changing, stigma against trans and non-binary people continues to exist. Targeted accommodation would offer safe options for trans and non-binary people in crisis, and begin to reduce barriers that prevent trans and non-binary people from seeking homelessness assistance.

To ensure trans and non-binary Victorians without a home have access to safe accommodation, the Victorian Government should:

invest $5.1 million in capital and $4.5 million over four years to establish a 12-unit crisis and transitional accommodation facility for trans and non-binary people, supporting 24–36 people each year in metropolitan Melbourne.

6. Quality care in supported residential services

Victorians receiving a pension or other statutory income and who live in supported residential services deserve to live safely and well. Yet, the current system has long been in need of reform, with reports of poor quality care and growing complexity of resident needs at the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. Without affordable and appropriate accommodation, vulnerable residents are at risk of homelessness.

To ensure people living in supported residential services can maintain safe, quality accommodation, the Victorian Government should:

invest $12.0 million in trialling a new support model to improve quality of care and overall resident health and wellbeing.

Taking action

We can only end homelessness in Victoria by working together. Council to Homeless Persons is calling on individuals and organisations to tell the Government what we believe is necessary to address homelessness in our state.

We have created a suite of resources to help do just that:

Speak to your MP

Leading up to the State Budget being delivered in May, the Government will be making decisions on funding allocations. Now is the time to speak to your MP about the actions you would like to be taken on housing and homelessness.

We encourage members of the public, workers in the specialist homelessness sector, and people with lived experience of homelessness to raise concerns with their MP and request actions for change.

Read our guidance on how to arrange, conduct and follow-up and phone call, letter or meeting with your local MP.

The information on this page and within our State Budget Submission can be used as resources to help prepare you activity, along with the factsheets and information on our About homelessness pages.

Spread the word

We encourage members of the public, workers in the specialist homelessness sector, and people with lived experience of homelessness to raise concerns with their MP and request actions for change.

Read our guidance on how to arrange, conduct and follow-up and phone call, letter or meeting with your local MP.

The information on this page and within our State Budget Submission can be used as resources to help prepare you activity, along with the factsheets and information on our About homelessness pages.

Spread the word

Community support is vital in creating change. Amplifying messages about homelessness is a key way to educate the community about the issues leading up to the State Budget.

Whether you are an individual or an organisation, you are encouraged to share the following messages on your social media and among your networks. You are welcome to use the images below (please click on the image to open full size, and save) along with the suggested wording and facts, or create your own posts.

Call for investing in a ten-year strategy