Increase the number and range of crisis and emergency accommodation

In September 2016, a further $24 million was announced to extend the rapid housing initiative to increase the supply of housing for people sleeping rough and the chronic homeless.

In May 2017, $133 million was announced for long-term housing, more rental assistance, improved crisis accommodation and better support for people fleeing family violence.

The Ozanam House redevelopment was completed and opened in June 2019 providing 60 crisis, 48 transitional and 26 self-contained apartments. This accommodation is for men and women experiencing homelessness. A community centre is also located onsite providing a range of community and health services.

The Housing Blitz has funded construction of 180 new units of crisis accommodation and upgrades of existing accommodation, including upgrading Melbourne City Mission's King Street premises for homeless youth and wrap around services, that opened in July 2019.

Ozanam House was completed in June 2019. It continues in operation.

The Melbourne City Mission Youth refuge in the CBD was completed in July 2019.

Construction of the Hope Street, Melton Youth Refuge is complete and started assisting young people in July 2020.

The Rapid Housing Assistance initiatives were completed successfully in 2016–17 with 283 properties purchased under the acquisition program and 198 properties leased under the head lease programs. In 2017–18, further expansions of the Family Violence and Homelessness Rapid Housing initiatives provided more than 240 additional head leases.

In March 2018, a further $4 million was committed to the Rapid Housing Program to ensure victim-survivors have access to homes when they need them. Under the program, homes are leased from private owners by community housing agencies, which sublet them to women and children at below-market rent. The program focuses on areas with high rates of family violence and offers stable accommodation for up to 12 months.

The 2021-22 Victorian budget committed $110 million for the Private Rental Assistance Program, which prevents and ends homelessness by rapidly rehousing people in private rentals – with more than 10,000 more households already in a home. Previously, funding of $33.2 million for the private rental assistance program was provided for two years in 2019-20 following the initial $16 million funding allocated in 2016-17. The program assists approximately six thousand clients each year to establish or maintain private rental accommodation.

Over 2016 and 2017, 5,100 Flexible Support Packages were provided to victim-survivors of family violence. An evaluation of the program completed in 2017 indicated that Flexible Support Packages help victim-survivors to leave and remain free from violence.

Implemented.