Thursday, 2 May 2019

Northern Victoria Region

In reply to Ms LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (21 March 2019)

Mr WYNNE (Richmond—Minister for Housing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Planning)

The Victorian Government is working to break the cycle of homelessness by intervening early, getting rough sleepers housed quickly and strengthening support services to keep vulnerable people off the streets. We have invested more than $45 million in initiatives as part of Victoria’s Homelessness and Rough Steeping Action Plan (the Action Plan), which is part of a record investment of over $1 billion in housing and homelessness services, and $2.1 billion in financial backing for social housing.

While the latest Street Count indicated the government’s policies are having an impact on the incidence of rough sleeping in the Melbourne CBD, we are aware that vulnerable people sleep rough in locations throughout the state, including Shepparton and the Northern Victoria Region. Investment in the Northern Victoria Region by the Victorian Government includes:

• A recent contribution of $5.5 million to a project with Wintringham—Specialist Aged Care, to deliver 28 one-bedroom homes in Shepparton to support vulnerable people, in particular elderly people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

• Acquisition of 15 new dwellings across Mildura, Bendigo and Echuca for people experiencing homelessness.

• Purchase of five additional modular units for the Bendigo area for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

• Over $38 million in homelessness services in the following locations:

• $4 million in Wodonga

• $2 million in Whittlesea

• $7 million in Mildura

• $7 million in Shepparton

• $18 million in Bendigo.

The Action Plan provides $19 million to establish assertive outreach teams in areas of greatest need across the state, including in Swan Hill in the Northern Victoria Region.

The allocation of these investments is focused on the areas of highest need across the State. The government will continue to deliver targeted support and long-term housing solutions to ensure people experiencing or at risk of homelessness have access to stable, secure accommodation that meets their need.