Thursday, 1 August 2024

Ministers statements: homelessness

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Housing, Minister for Water, Minister for Equality) (12:21): I rise today in my capacity as the Minister for Housing. The fact that I was joined by so many people from across this chamber and indeed all over the Parliament yesterday was testament to the well-understood, universal commitment to doing more to address the challenges of homelessness here in this state. It was really hard to miss the 6000 origami houses that lined the steps of Parliament yesterday. Ahead of national Homelessness Week, it was an important opportunity for us to come together irrespective of party lines and talk about what we need to do, what has been done and how we need to actually have enduring approaches to making sure that homelessness is rare, brief and non-recurring.

I want to thank the Victorian Homelessness Network for bringing the sector and members of Parliament together ahead of Homelessness Week. It is a multifaceted issue that does require multifaceted solutions. We need to make sure that we are not just building more homes but also providing the wraparound services, support, engagement and connection that people deserve to turn humiliation into hope and into the opportunity to thrive. Last time I was here we had 9400 big housing builds completed or underway, with 4000 households either moving in or getting ready to move in. Now, five weeks later, we have 9600 homes underway with 4400 homes moved into. Together with other capital investments, we are building more houses, like through the innovative ground lease model and the Regional Housing Fund. We have now got over 13,200 homes complete or underway and over 8000 complete. We know there is more to do, but that is progress. Thank you to Mitchell Burney from Quantum Support Services, Rebecca Cleaver from Wombat Housing Support Services, Rhonda Collins from Latitude: Directions for Young People, Deborah Di Natale of Council to Homeless Persons and Jason Russell, who spoke of his lived experience of homelessness and his efforts to recover his life, his pride and his connections.