Housing investment welcomed, but homelessness prevention remains underfunded

St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria has welcomed new investment in social housing and homelessness responses in the FY 2026-2027 Victorian State Budget, but says prevention and early intervention remain underfunded as demand continues to rise. With requests for emergency welfare assistance up 85%, the Society says stronger investment in prevention is critical to stop more Victorians reaching crisis.
Read our response to the Victorian State Budget and what it means for vulnerable Victorians.

David found out how easy it is to lose everything and be pushed into homelessness.

All his life he worked hard but then the work dried up and he found himself unable to pay the rent. It was a devastating shock. In a few short months, he went from a well-paid job to sleeping in a park.

All it took was one sudden setback and David was sleeping rough.

This winter, more and more people like David are being pushed into homelessness. All it takes is one sudden crisis.

Charlie Spendlove has been appointed as Group Chief Executive Officer of St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria to lead the organisation through Victoria’s social emergency and housing crisis. 

Charlie will lead the Group's three entities, St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria, VincentCare Victoria and VincentCare Community Housing, at a moment of growing social urgency. With more than 30,000 Victorians in acute housing need and 800,000 living below the poverty line, the Society has committed to helping halve homelessness in Victoria by 2035.

St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria launched its Strategic Advocacy Plan 2026–2030 at Parliament House on 31 March 2026.

The Advocacy Plan is built on a clear conviction: homelessness and poverty in Victoria are preventable and solvable.

By strengthening housing security and investing in social capital, we can build a future where everyone has a place to call home and a community to belong to.