Community invited to have a say on homelessness in Melbourne


The City of Melbourne has unveiled an ambitious plan to tackle homelessness over the next three years by working with key partners to provide services and options for those experiencing homelessness in the city.

The Pathways: Homelessness Strategy 2014-17 outlines Council’s plans to work collaboratively to provide long-term affordable housing options, streamlining referral services for rough sleepers and supporting women and children who are experiencing family violence.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said the strategy looked to build on the success of the previous strategy and contribute to developing sustainable pathways out of homelessness.

“In recent years, Council has helped deliver a range of innovative services,” the Lord Mayor said.

“We have worked with organisations such as Common Ground to enable 161 apartments for homeless people and those at risk of becoming homeless and affordable housing in other locations. We committed more than $700,000 to the Central City Community Health Service at Drill Hall which provides a range of services to people experiencing homelessness and safe places for women.

“We are proud of these achievements, but the fact remains that on any given night, there are still around 100 people sleeping rough on Melbourne’s streets; people who do not have a warm home for themselves or their family throughout winter. This is not something we can turn a blind eye to.

“Through this strategy, we have set some ambitious targets to work towards with our partners so together we can make a real difference to lives of vulnerable Melburnians.”

The strategy proposes a range of new initiatives to address homelessness, focussing on four key themes: know our city, be inclusive, develop skills and create pathways. Key initiatives include:

  • Undertake a range of research projects on emerging trends in the city
  • Develop innovative solutions to ensure support is provided in heatwave periods and other extreme weather events to people experiencing homelessness. 
  • Explore supportive work opportunities for those sleeping rough to build self-confidence, develop networks and develop alternate sources of income. 
  • Establish a new Rough Sleepers Service Coordination pilot project in consultation with partners to provide a better, more coordinated response for people sleeping rough.

Councillor Richard Foster, Chair of Council’s People City portfolio, said extensive research had been undertaken to ensure the proposed initiatives addressed the hardships of people sleeping rough and the broader social issues affecting people experiencing homelessness.

“The Pathways: Homelessness Strategy has been drafted in consultation with our partners, including people who have experienced homelessness in Melbourne, and examines best practice on a local, state and national level,” Cr Foster said.

“We have listened closely to the challenges of our city’s most vulnerable people to ensure we are linking them to the services they need and that they have the best chance possible to move out of homelessness.”

The draft strategy is open for feedback until 13 June, via the Participate Melbourne website: http://participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/participate-Melbourne