Wednesday, 30 July 2025

Homelessness

Trung LUU (Western Metropolitan) (18:59): (1777) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Housing and Building in relation to the increase in homelessness in the Western Metropolitan Region. The action I seek is for the minister to work with her colleague Minister Stitt, the Minister for Mental Health, and the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing to request funding for the delivery of the dedicated assertive outreach service in the City of Brimbank as part of the H3 partnership – health, housing and homelessness. The H3 partnership – known to other councils in my electorate, including the City of Wyndham – strongly supports the place-based approach model partnering with services across health, housing and homelessness providers to maximise resource collaborations and innovations, which in turn delivers positive outcomes.

This program is internationally recognised as an effective model to engage people who experience homelessness, mental ill health or alcohol and other drug concerns through building trust and providing all forms of necessary support on offer. The assertive outreach service will proactively approach and support relevant individuals who are either experiencing or at risk of homelessness, as well as other mental health challenges. It is an effective and trusted way to engage our own most vulnerable, who sometimes do not present directly to housing, homelessness or health services.

The recent state budget allocated $61 million to help people experiencing homelessness to find a permanent place to live, including funding for outreach teams supporting rough sleepers. I urge the minister to ensure part of this funding is provided for this assertive outreach service in Brimbank, in Melbourne’s west. People in this community are some of the most disadvantaged and in need of support services, particularly at the height of the cost-of-living crisis. This funding will target rough sleepers in hotspots including St Albans, Sunshine and Cairnlea and undertake a needs-based assessment, coordinate and facilitate access to housing, health and support services and will provide follow-up case coordination, enhance data collection and further referral pathways. I urge the minister to direct some of this funding to Brimbank City Council for the H3 partnership program.