Victorian Government's six-point homelessness plan
St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria welcomes the Victorian Government’s new plan and investment of $24.8 million to strengthen Victoria’s response to rough sleeping.
The Government’s six-point plan offers a clear framework for a united approach towards abolishing homelessness in Victoria. It prioritises prevention, keeping people housed, expanding Housing First approaches, improving outreach and strengthening coordination between services. These are practical measures that reflect many of the issues we, and others across the sector, have been raising with Government.
The new plan aligns with our Strategic Advocacy Plan, which outlined core focus areas for funding and policy priorities into 2030, calling on the government to shift from crisis response to prevention and invest in housing supply and back community-based support at scale.
The Government’s engagement with the Society and broader homelessness sector in developing this plan means that it’s informed by the real-world feedback and lived experience of those accessing and providing those services. It responds to the need for a long-term outlook focused on Housing First and wrap-around services, to support vulnerable Victorians before they reach a state of crisis.
We continue to offer partnership with the government and sector to work constructively to implement this new plan. We can contribute practical advice on service coordination, early intervention, Housing First and the role community-based organisations can play in helping people remain connected and supported.
There is more work to do, particularly on long-term social and affordable housing supply and prevention, but this is a positive step and provides a strong platform to build from.