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<h4>The St Vincent de Paul Society offers services that help people in need.</h4>
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<p><a href="/vic/services" title="Services" class="outline-button-white"><span class="text-action-primary-yellow-100">Services in Victoria</span></a>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="/vic/find-help" title="Find help" class="outline-button-white">Help options in Victoria</a></p>

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<p>Everything you buy or donate inspires change in your local community. For a full list of shops in Victoria, <a href="https://www.vinnies.org.au/vic/shops" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a></p>

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<h4><span class="ui-provider a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z ab ac ae af ag ah ai aj ak">Everyone deserves an affordable and safe home. It is a fundamental human right. We are dedicated to addressing challenges that can cause people to face homelessness - whether they are single, part of a family, children, teenagers, young or elderly adults.</span></h4>
<p><span class="ui-provider a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z ab ac ae af ag ah ai aj ak">The St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria's homelessness services offer comprehensive support to prevent vulnerable individuals from experiencing homelessness. With “wrap-around” assistance and programs, we address the root causes of homelessness and provide ongoing care to help people rebuild their lives.</span></p>
<h4><span class="ui-provider a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z ab ac ae af ag ah ai aj ak highlight-block">2024-2025&nbsp; |&nbsp; $1.6M ASSISTANCE PROVIDED</span></h4>

Good stabilises

Vinnies VIC:  We have a strong commitment to assist people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Homelessness & Housing

National Homelessness Week | Homelessness in Victoria

Homelessness Week | Homelessness in Victoria

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<h2>Homelessness in Victoria</h2>
<h4>For most people experiencing homelessness in Victoria, it doesn't just look like sleeping on the street. It means couch surfing, living in a car or moving between unsafe, temporary places to stay, always unsure of what comes next.</h4>
<p>Homelessness in Victoria rose 24% between 2016 and 2021 - nearly five times the 5% national increase (ABS 2021 Census). Nearly 30,000 people are on the priority waiting list for social housing in Victoria, and demand on frontline services keeps growing (Victorian Housing Register).</p>
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<h3>24%</h3>
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<h4>Rise in Victorian homelessness between 2016 and 2021, <br>compared to a 5% national increase.</h4>
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<h3>30,000</h3>
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<h4>People on the priority waiting list for social housing <br>in Victoria, with 55,000 on the list altogether.</h4>
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<h3>14,520</h3>
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<h4>People who sought homelessness support in Victoria in <br>June 2025, the highest of any state.</h4>
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<h3>60%</h3>
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<h4>Share of the 289,000 people seeking homelessness<br>support nationally who are women.</h4>
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<h5>Sources: ABS 2021 Census; Victorian Housing Register; Vinnies Welfare Assistance Call Centre 2024 data; AIHW Specialist Homelessness Services 2024–25.</h5>
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Rich Text

<h2>The issues</h2>
<h4>Homelessness is often hidden. It's easy to miss what isn't visible and easier still to underfund the support people need to find safety and stability.</h4>
<p>Domestic and family violence is now the number one reason people seek homelessness support in Australia. Women account for 60% of the 289,000 people seeking homelessness support nationally each year (AIHW).</p>
<p>Victoria recorded 14,520 people seeking homelessness support in June 2025 - the highest of any state (AIHW Specialist Homelessness Services 2024–2025). Nearly 30,000 people are on the priority waiting list for social housing in Victoria, with 55,000 on the list altogether (Victorian Housing Register).</p>
<p>A lack of crisis accommodation sends thousands of women, and their children, back to unsafe homes every year, simply because they have nowhere else to go.</p>
<p>For many people, the choice isn't between a good option and a bad one. It's between staying somewhere unsafe or facing homelessness. That's not a choice anyone should have to make.</p>

Homelessness assistance provided in 2024-2025 

2024-2025 Homelessness statistics in Victoria

<h3>What do Vinnies do?</h3>
<h4>St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria services:</h4>
<p><a href="https://www.vinnies.org.au/vic/find-help/financial" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Emergency financial support</strong></a>: <br>We pay for emergency accommodation for people facing hardship or crisis, such as a mum escaping family violence. Our first priority is to get people somewhere safe with a roof over their head.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.vinnies.org.au/vic/services/soup-vans" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Vinnies Soup Vans</strong></a>: <br>Our Vinnies Soup Van hubs deliver meals to rough sleepers and people living in low-cost or temporary accommodation every night.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.vinniesnils.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vinnies NILS (No Interest Loans Scheme)</a></strong>: <br>People on low incomes can access no-interest credit to pay for essential household goods and expenses.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.vincentcare.org.au/our-services/programs-services/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Housing &amp; Homelessness assistance</a>:</strong> <br>Our specialised homelessness service and provider, VincentCare Victoria and VincentCare Community Housing, assists some of Victoria's most vulnerable communities into housing.</p>
<p><a href="/vic/vinnies-shops" title="Vinnies Shops"><strong>Vinnies Shops</strong></a>: <br>Our op shops raise vital funds for our programs and services, every single day, while providing affordable clothing and household goods to the community.</p>
<p><strong><a href="/vic/get-involved/community-fundraising" title="Community Fundraising">Community fundraising</a></strong>: <br>Initiatives like the Vinnies CEO Sleepout and School Sleepout raise vital funds and awareness, helping us expand crisis accommodation and support across Victoria.</p>
<h4>VincentCare Victoria services:</h4>
<p><a href="https://www.vincentcare.org.au/our-services/programs-services/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Specific programs for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness.</strong></a></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.vincentcare.org.au/news/latest-news/vincentcare-joins-journey-to-social-inclusion">Journey to Social Inclusion (J2SI)</a></strong>:&nbsp;<br>An intensive, long-term support program for people who have experienced repeated homelessness. J2SI provides up to three years of dedicated case management to help people secure stable housing and address the underlying causes of homelessness.</p>
<p><a href="https://prideinplace.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pride in Place</strong></a>:<br>A dedicated initiative supporting LGBTIQA+ people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, providing safe,<br>inclusive housing pathways and support tailored to their needs.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.vincentcare.org.au/our-services/ozanam-house/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Crisis, extended supported accommodation and Independent Living Units at Ozanam House</a></strong>:<br>Ozanam House offers a full continuum of accommodation, from crisis beds for people sleeping rough, through <br>to extended supported accommodation and Independent Living Units, helping people move towards lasting stability.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.vincentcare.org.au/our-services/family-violence/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Marian Community &amp; Olive's Place</strong></a>: <br>Specialist Family Violence Services, including refuge and crisis accommodation, information on future housing options, as well as referrals to specialised counselling, court support, and material and financial assistance.</p>
<h4>VincentCare Community Housing services:</h4>
<p>VincentCare Community Housing (VCCH) is our registered housing provider, delivering long-term and transitional housing across Victoria under the Residential Tenancies Act.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.vincentcare.org.au/our-services/housing-homelessness-resources/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Transitional housing</strong></a>: <br>VCCH manages over 160 transitional properties, mostly across Melbourne's northwest, on behalf of the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing. These homes give people who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness, somewhere safe to live while working towards long-term housing.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.vincentcare.org.au/vincentcare-community-housing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Long-term housing (Independent Living Units)</strong></a>: <br>Affordable, long-term housing for older people experiencing disadvantage, with Independent Living Units in Alfredton, Bendigo, Mildura, Maryborough, Red Cliffs and North Melbourne.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.vinnies.org.au/vic/services/housing-build" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Big Housing Build</strong></a>: <br>Victoria's largest-ever investment in social and affordable housing. VCCH is delivering three projects: a 92-unit apartment block in Footscray, an Independent Living Units redevelopment in Bendigo, and nine townhouses in Epping.</p>

The St Vincent de Paul Society's annual flagship fundraising event is held in June to support our good works and homelessness services. CEOs, business and community leaders sleep out on one of the coldest nights of the year to gain just a small insight into what people experiencing homelessness deal with every night.

You can be part of this event and help us raise awareness and funds for our services. 

#DriveTheChange

You can donate to our annual Winter Appeal to raise much-needed funds to support the Society's homelessness services. This year your gift will assist vulnerable people like David who found himself homeless after his landlord advised his home of 12 years was being renovated. Each night David was filled with the anxiety unsure of what would be there waiting for him. With the help of Vinnies, David received the support he needed and is now in stable accommodation. Your support ensures people like David have somewhere to turn to in times of need.

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David never imagined becoming homeless. He didn’t envision how one hitch could lead to so many things coming undone so quickly.

Meet David

Stability was one of the things Abigail and Isabella were looking for and found because of Vinnies.

Meet Abigail & Isabella

Following his divorce and health issues Rick was alone and found himself living in an old caravan, 25 kilometres from the nearest town.

Meet Rick

Escaping from her violent home, Bec left and found herself living in her car. By chance she found food and support from our volunteers.

Meet Bec

Drive the change