Homeless crisis: More Victorians seeking help, sleeping rough

THE number of Victorians seeking help from homelessness services would not fit in the MCG, with new data showing more people than ever are sleeping rough.

THE number of Victorians seeking help from homelessness services would not fit in the MCG, with new data showing more people are sleeping rough.

Nearly 110,000 Victorians contacted support services last year, including about 35,000 who were considered to be homeless and were sleeping on the streets, in short-term accommodation or couch-surfing.

A new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, to be released today, shows the number of Victorians contacting homelessness support services has surged by almost 20 per cent in the last four years.

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Alarmingly, one in every 84 Australians needed help from such services, including about 14,000 Victorian children aged under 10.

Women were most at risk of homelessness, and 44 per cent of Victorians who have sought help with accommodation do so because of family violence.

It comes as the Council to Homeless Persons calls on the state government to spend $3.8 billion to build an extra 14,500 social housing properties over the next five year.

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Homeless on Elizabeth Street. Picture: Mark Wilson

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The council’s state Budget wishlist also includes new homeless prevention programs to work with real estate agents and put at-risk people in contact with brokerage services to help pay their rent, as well as financial counselling and tenancy education programs.

The council is also calling for new government initiatives to support homeless children and ensure they can continue their education, with support for travel costs, books, equipment and uniforms.

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