Tuesday, 16 June 2026

 Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (21:50): (2580) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Housing and Building, and the action I seek is urgent intervention to secure funding that will keep Foley House in Footscray open and its residents in their homes. Foley House is a longstanding residential care facility run by the Salvation Army providing 24-hour support to residents with complex disabilities, acquired brain injuries, significant mental health diagnoses and trauma. The residents of Foley House were told it would be their forever home. Without Foley House many of these men would be at risk of cycling through prison, crisis accommodation, hospital beds or rough sleeping. Residents are now being transferred out following the Salvation Army’s decision to close the service due to accelerating cost pressures.

Community concern around the closure of Foley House has been overwhelming. Workers, residents and local Greens councillors have spoken out. Despite the strong community outcry, the government has only provided funding to facilitate the closure and relocation of residents, not offered funding to keep this essential service operating. Surely, given the current housing crisis, keeping this facility operating is in everyone’s interests, not least all the residents that call it home.

Footscray has no crisis or transitional accommodation, despite a large rough-sleeping population. Closing Foley House will push some of the most vulnerable community members into housing that does not meet their needs and places them at high risk of experiencing homelessness. I call on the minister to step in, pause all resident transfers and work with the Salvation Army and community to secure a long-term funding solution that keeps Foley House open and allows displaced residents the opportunity to return.