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Extra cash to house family violence victims, homeless during COVID-19
By Clay Lucas
A multimillion-dollar state government family violence fund will be used to secure motels and short-term accommodation for women and children fleeing domestic violence during the COVID-19 crisis.
The government will also announce on Friday that disused aged care centres owned by the state will be repurposed so they can house homeless people who contract the coronavirus or need to self-isolate because of it.
The funding will help provide accommodation for those escaping family violence during the coronavirus crisis.Credit: Shutterstock
The $40 million family violence funding package will be made available for those who have experienced violence or who feel unsafe isolating or recovering from coronavirus in their home.
Further measures and funding are also expected to be announced on Friday by the Andrews government to provide critical help for survivors of family violence.
The government is also spending $8.8 million preparing four "pop-up" facilities to provide healthcare and accommodation for more than 200 homeless people across Melbourne.
One homeless services provider said they were not aware of any rough sleepers in inner Melbourne who had contracted the virus. The government is concerned over both an outbreak among some of Melbourne’s most vulnerable people, and homeless people potentially spreading the virus.
Since announcing an earlier round of funding from the state in March to tackle homelessness during the coronavirus pandemic, 529 rough sleepers across the state have found temporary homes – including 150 in Melbourne's city centre.
The government is not naming where the four new coronavirus recovery facilities for the homeless will be located, because of fears it would result in community campaigns against them – as were run by the opposition against new public housing in Brighton in 2018.
Housing Minister Richard Wynne said the accommodation for homeless people affected by coronavirus would be operated by Anglicare, the Brotherhood of St Laurence, Launch Housing, Sacred Heart Mission and VincentCare Victoria. St Vincent’s Hospital will provide health services in all of the former aged care centres.
Homeless people who want to access the former aged care centres will need to have undergone testing for coronavirus and be awaiting results, or have been confirmed as having the virus. They will also be able to access a centre if they are required to self-isolate and do not have suitable housing, or have been discharged from hospital and are recovering from coronavirus.
Mr Wynne said those without a home were at greater risk of contracting coronavirus because they could not self-isolate or quarantine. “This will help keep them safe and slow the spread of virus.”
The Council to Homeless Persons welcomed the funding, with chief executive Jenny Smith saying those without a home were incredibly vulnerable.
“The overwhelming advice during this pandemic has been to stay at home to prevent spreading the virus. For those sleeping rough, this is impossible,” she said.