State government announces new plan to rebuild lives and end rough sleeping

Local support agencies and organisations have welcomed the state government’s recently announced plan to tackle homelessness and support more Victorians into safe and secure housing. The plan, backed by an investment of $24.8 million aimed at delivering a new plan to strengthen Victoria's response to rough sleeping, will leverage existing funding and introduce new measures to respond to rough sleeping, get people housed and keep people housed. "Rough sleeping shouldn’t be a thing in a country as wealthy as ours, but there are more than 100 rough sleepers who use our services in Wangaratta alone, and likely many more have not connected with us," said Celia Adams, Beyond Housing CEO. “We welcome funding to help address this issue. "Further investment in housing and supports to help people with complex needs are urgently required to address the worsening homelessness crisis.” The plan outlines the roll out of coordinated by-name lists and an online triage system to help direct resources, prioritise rough sleepers most in need, and collate data and insights, new complex care coordinators working across the state to lead multi-agency support and client referrals to reduce wait-times for support, and the expansion of assertive outreach workers to every area of the state. It also includes expanded Housing First tenancy supports for an extra 1000 people at risk of homelessness, and aims to address youth homelessness in metropolitan and regional Victoria by providing ongoing operational funding for crucial centres. NESAY CEO Laura Shortis said NESAY welcomes the recognition that regional communities and young people need a tailored response. "Outreach, stronger coordination and better information sharing all matter, but they must result in real housing options," she said. "We can’t coordinate our way out of a shortage of housing that is appropriate for young people. "Here, in our area, we need sustained investment in prevention and early intervention, youth-specific crisis and transitional accommodation, and safe, affordable long-term housing. "Success should be measured not only by how many people are supported out of rough sleeping, but by how many young people never experience homelessness in the first place." Ten new assertive outreach services will also be delivered in Brimbank, Shepparton, Hume, Whitehorse, Latrobe, Darebin, Bairnsdale, Maribyrnong, Wodonga and Mornington Peninsula as part of a $27.8 million investment. Junction Support Services general manager youth and family homelessness, and business development, Annie Shirley, said this plan recognises that rough sleeping is increasing in regional communicates, including Wangaratta. "Stronger coordination, better triage and expanded tenancy supports will help us engage earlier, reduce delays and support people into housing more quickly," she said. "We welcome all new initiatives to increase support and housing for people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping, including across the Wangaratta region. "This will create clearer, faster pathways for housing and support for people in Wangaratta. "Junction already delivers homelessness support and outreach in Wangaratta. "We will continue to meet people where they are and connect them with housing and support where appropriate. "Assertive outreach will bring in an evidence-informed model, and while Wangaratta isn’t listed among the 10 new funded sites, the statewide expansion still strengthens best practice across the sector."

State government announces new plan to rebuild lives and end rough sleeping

Wangaratta Chronicle, Wednesday, 23 September, 2026

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