Homelessness week gives us the opportunity to think about what having a home means to those of us who have them and to consider what it might be like for those who don’t. This week also provides an opportunity for those who are concerned about the numbers of people experiencing homelessness in Victoria to take action.
On 6th May, DHHS released the updated version of the Guidelines for funded homelessness service providers related to COVID-19 . These include the introduction of a coordinated local response to people currently housed in emergency accommodation.
Four COVID19- Isolation and Recovery Facilities (CIRF’s) across inner Melbourne have been established to provide temporary accommodation with support for people experiencing homelessness who test positive for COVID-19, are unwell and awaiting test results or people that require an additional recovery period from the virus.
Minister of Housing - media release - 10.4.20
The Victorian Government will use repurposed aged-care sites to provide self-isolation facilities for Victorians experiencing homelessness – helping them recover from coronavirus, or avoid infection in the first place.
CHP e-news explains
On the 15th April, the Premier announced a set of new measures to provide certainty around the ban on evictions, announced by the Prime Minister on 29 March, and just prior to Easter two new announcements were made to increase accommodation options for people experiencing homelessness during the crisis.
A list of webinars and training opportunities that may be of assistance to you and your staff.
The COVID-19 Plan for the Victorian Community Services Sector was updated on 30th April 2020. The plan provides guidance to the community services sector during a Pandemic Response.
The EHN Practitioner Meeting provides a great opportunity for practitioners and allied services to come together to share information and ideas and to enhance your professional networks.
Message from Susie Lukis (Statewide Childrens Resource Program)
Due to the current situation, the Children’s Network Meeting on Thursday 16th April, will not be going ahead.
While I am not providing face to face outposts, training or agency attendance, I am still available for all other support.
Staff from Opening Doors, Women’s Refuges, Family Violence Support agencies, Family Support Services, Police FV Liaison and other agencies who work with families experiencing homelessness and family violence are invited to attend. We love to see familiar faces and new faces are welcome as well so please feel free to invite people you feel may benefit from this meeting. This network will provide a forum for agency updates, sharing of resource information and practice challenges, discussions around regional themes, opportunities for case discussions and the potential to invite guest speakers as well as possibilities for interagency collaboration and capacity building.
The plan was developed by government funding provided to the Council to Homeless Persons (CHP) through DHSS and guided by an Executive Advisory Group (EAG), and leaders from across both the SHS and DHHS. The content of the plan reflects the input of consultations held with the SHS and others around the state in late 2017.
Three inter related reforms have been introduced in Victoria that will be integral to reducing family violence and promoting child wellbeing and safety.
Everyone needs a home. But in Victoria alone, 25,000 people are homeless on any given night. 82,000 people are waiting for social housing. Another million live in housing stress, paying more rent than they can afford.
There’s no doubt about it – we’re at crisis point.
But the good news is, there are solutions. By building 3,000 extra public and community housing properties each year, the State Government could relieve the pressure on the private rental market and increase the supply of affordable homes for people on low incomes.
Our housing system is broken.
Whether you’re struggling to find shelter each night or looking to buy your first home, the government can do simple things to fix the system - to make sure everyone has as home.
ABC Fact Check, Unison Housing Research Centre, Sacred Heart Mission and CHP have collaborated on a homelessness fact check project
A dedicated fund has been established to support innovative partnerships between the Victorian Government and consortia including the community housing, private, not for profit and local government sectors.
The $1 billion Victorian Social Housing Growth Fund will deliver additional supply of social and affordable housing.
Frontyard Youth Services is permanently relocating back to our King Street home
Do you know the difference between Social, Community, Public, Aboriginal and Affordable housing? #everybodyshome have created a breakdown for you.
The ABS have released the 2016 Census data, showing that 24,817 Victorians were counted as homeless in 2016, an 11% increase since 2011 Census.
On Saturday 13th January 2018 the Victorian Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Plan was launched.
Information and tip sheets to help workers navigate the Access and Eligibility for Financial Support for New Zealand migrants living in Australia
A campaign to build 100,000 new, desperately needed affordable homes in order to alleviate the homelessness and housing crisis in Australia
The new Rooming House Operators Act comes into effect on 26 April, requiring all existing operators to be licensed by 24 August.
