Team to help Geelong’s rough sleepers

GEELONG will be one of the priority Victorian areas to receive a dedicated team to help rough sleepers as part of the state government’s new Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Plan.

Earlier this month, Minister for Housing Martin Foley announced the plan, which will have more than $45 million in initiatives.

The plan builds on a commitment to grow Victoria’s social housing supply, ensure better collaboration between agencies and improve support services for vulnerable Victorians.

It was informed by former Brotherhood of St Laurence executive director Tony Nicholson, and also reflects the work of the Rough Sleeping Taskforce chaired by Melbourne Health’s Dr Ruth Vine.

Mr Nicholson’s work spoke to a range of issues, including the need for a response that is tailored to each individual to help them maintain a roof over their head.

In response, the state government will spend $19 million to establish assertive outreach teams in areas of greatest need across the state, including Geelong, Melbourne’s CBD, Dandenong, Frankston, Maroondah, Warrnambool, Ballarat, Geelong, Bendigo, and Swan Hill.

These workers will actively seek out and engage with people experiencing homelessness and connect them with emergency accommodation, health services and ongoing support.

According to an appraisal of rough sleeping in Victoria published in October, people sleeping rough and unable to resolve their homelessness gravitate to central Melbourne over time from other locations, particularly from the outer suburbs to inner Melbourne.

There is also a drift from regional and rural locations into major regional cities such as Geelong and Ballarat.

“We want to break the cycle of homelessness in Victoria – that means intervening early and connecting rough sleepers with the services they need to turn their lives around,” Mr Foley said.

“Through our investments in assertive outreach teams and additional rapid housing, we will give vulnerable Victorians a pathway out of homelessness.”