Tuesday, 15 October 2019

In reply to  Ms LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (27 August 2019)

Mr FOLEY (Albert Park—Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Equality, Minister for Creative Industries):

Thank you for raising the need for action to address homelessness and the need for social housing in the Shepparton electorate. The Victorian Government is committed to continue addressing the issue of affordable housing across the state.

The Government is aware of the need in Shepparton, and financial commitments to address this need include:

• $5.5 million to a project with Wintringham—Specialist Aged care for 28 one-bedroom homes in Shepparton to support vulnerable older Victorians

• over $38 million in homelessness services across the region with $7 million specifically for Shepparton

• over $1.5 million for the Education First Youth Foyer in Shepparton to assist 40 young people annually.

The Government is also investing a record amount in housing and homelessness services at a state-wide level. This includes 1,000 new public housing properties over the next three years and 500 new affordable rental properties delivered in 2019 through the $1 billion Social Housing Growth Fund.

An additional $50.4 million over the next five years will be invested into homelessness services. Shepparton has been identified as one of several sites to receive this funding. This will see more on site treatrepment services in crisis-supported accommodation, private rental assistance for over 6,000 Victorians and the continuation of the state-wide homelessness after-hours crisis services.

Another $103.5 million in matched funding will be provided through the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement to provide funding to 48 agencies to deliver services to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. This includes early intervention, housing and support and homelessness prevention.