Beyond Housing is calling for urgent action to help combat the worsening homelessness crisis.
Homelessness Week runs from 3-9 August. This year’s theme is “Homelessness Action Now”, calling on communities to build support and drive government action to end homelessness.
Beyond Housing CEO Celia Adams said decisive spending was needed at a state and regional level to end the crisis.
“Homelessness has never been more visible in our communities than it is now, but without drastic action, this will only intensify,” she said.
“There has been substantial investment in recent years to deliver increased social housing numbers; however, many more are still required, as there are thousands of people in our region alone desperately needing somewhere safe and affordable to call home.
“People experiencing homelessness often face challenges, such as mental health issues, trauma, and chronic illness, so in addition to housing, there needs to be investment in supports to help people grow and thrive.”
The Community Housing Industry Association Victoria (CHIA Vic) and the Council to Homeless Persons (CHP) have both recommended building 60,000 new social houses in Victoria over the next 10 to 15 years.
While this would require significant government spending, research by Melbourne University and the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness has shown that it costs the government more to leave someone chronically homeless than it does to provide them with social housing.
But Ms Adams said it was not only key policymakers who had a part to play in ending homelessness.
“People should never underestimate their ability to influence change. There’s a lot of seemingly small actions people can take that make a big difference,” she said.
“Donations towards homelessness support charities can have a massive impact in someone’s life. $30 won’t buy someone a house, but it could buy them a hygiene pack or a meal voucher on the most difficult night of their lives.
“With state elections approaching, now is also the ideal time for people to write to their local representative and tell them why homelessness support should be a priority.
“We have numerous schools and workplaces across our region taking part in our Hoodies for Homelessness fundraiser during Homelessness Week. It shows the extent to which the community cares about this issue and the appetite there is for change.”
People wanting to support those struggling with homelessness can learn more about the ways they can help on the Beyond Housing website: https://beyondhousing.org.au/get-involved/
People at risk of becoming homeless or who are seeking housing assistance should phone their local homelessness entry point on 1800 825 955, or contact their nearest Beyond Housing office: https://beyondhousing.org.au/contact/contact-us/