Melbourne CBD homeless population spikes as funding ‘dries up’

As the number of homeless people grows in Melbourne’s CBD, rough sleepers say a lack of safe housing is to blame for forcing more people on to the streets.

Homelessness is growing in Melbourne’s CBD. Picture: Jason Edwards

A spike in rough sleepers in Melbourne’s CBD has been blamed on money from a state government-funded hotel accommodation program “drying up” during the pandemic.

There has been an “influx” of homeless people in Melbourne’s CBD and inner-city suburbs, with several camps set up in Southbank and Elizabeth and Swanston streets.

Rough sleepers have told the Herald Sun they feel “unsafe” after being robbed several times on the streets and in short-term housing.

They also say a lack of affordable safe housing is forcing more people on to the streets.

Homeless Project director Stuart Allen said: “The state government borrowed all this money to put homeless people in hotels during the pandemic”.

“After the peak of the pandemic passed, the money obviously dried up and they were forced to leave,’ he said.

Rough sleepers say a lack of affordable housing is forcing them on to the streets. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

As a result, Mr Allen said volunteer centres across the state had been experiencing a “huge onslaught of applicants”.

“People coming out of these hotels need accommodation and employment,” he said.

“It hasn’t helped their job finding at all – not knowing where you’re going to live makes a big impact on job seeking.

“They were put into a state of limbo and now they’ve been forced out.

“They have gone back to crisis centres scrambling to find somewhere to live.

“There’s only so many people we can take on. Our hands are tied.”

Salvation Army Major Brendan Nottle said the organisation started to see an “influx” of homeless people in Melbourne’s CBD in December last year.

But funding for hotel accommodation was only set aside during the pandemic.

Homelessness in Melbourne’s CBD has risen since December. Picture: Jason Edwards

“There’s been some terrific outcomes and some really surprising outcomes,’’ he said.

“People that were really entrenched in homelessness have really got back on their feet in long term housing and they’re doing really well.

“But then there are horror stories when people were being put into housing and it was an inappropriate placing.”

Kate, 40, who has been sleeping rough in Melbourne’s CBD for the past six months, said dozens of homeless people were unable to secure long-term housing after the pandemic.

“There are still so many of us living on the streets because there is a lack of housing,” she said.

“There is also very little government housing in regional suburbs in Victoria.”

She said she currently “feared” living on the streets, but had no other option.

“I was robbed on Swanston St,’’ she said.

“I had a pink lunch box with all of toiletries in it and it all got taken.

“We also had a trolley stolen full of all our belongings – this was under security cameras.

“I even had a beanie robbed off my head while I was sleeping, it’s shocking.”

Kate and her dog, Coots. Picture: Jason Edwards

Another woman, 46, who has been sleeping rough in Prahran for the past two years said she had “horrible” experiences living within short-term accommodation.

“I have seen a lot of fights and people getting robbed,’’ she said.

“It was horrible and I don’t think we are being put into places that best suit our needs and experiences.

“The government needs to give us ongoing support and more financial help.

“Even if we get put into housing, it’s hard for us to survive on very little money, it needs to be affordable.”

Fred, who was sleeping at Victoria Park before recently finding short-term housing, said living on the streets was tough.

Fred and his dog, Marli. Picture: Jason Edwards

“It was really, extremely hard to find accommodation, food and showers,” he said.

“The government needs to fix the housing problem because people are falling through the cracks and they deserve a roof over their head.”

In the past financial year the City of Melbourne invested $2m in support services for people experiencing homelessness.

This included funding for its daily support team to provide on-street support as well as the Salvation Army’s Night Cafe and Frontyard Youth Services.

The council is also redeveloping 602 Little Bourke St, to deliver up to 50 studio units to reduce homelessness in the CBD.

The $20m project received funding from the state government, philanthropists, foundations and corporations.

The City of Melbourne has invested $2m in support services for people experiencing homelessness. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the initiative would “provide support to some of Melbourne’s most vulnerable people” and create a new pathway out of homelessness.

“Every Melburnian deserves a roof over their head, and a safe place they can call home,’’ she said.

“We are a caring city, and we want to ensure anyone who needs it has access to a pathway out of homelessness.’’

Housing Minister Richard Wynne said the Andrews Government’s $5.3bn “Big Housing Build” was the largest investment in social housing in Australian history.

“We’ve also supported more than 1800 households to find long-term housing and break the cycle of homelessness through our response to the pandemic,’’ he said.

“And specialist staff continue to work hard to support all people experiencing homelessness.’’

Up to 250 families with children in emergency accommodation had also been supported to access secure, stable housing under the $66m “Homes for Families Program”.