A STATE government allocation to provide more accommodation in Frankston for those with severe mental illness has been welcomed by the Council to Homeless Persons.
The funding was announced in November but formally included in last week’s budget.
The state government will provide $109 million to “intervene early and provide targeted support that helps people get back on their feet”, Premier Daniel Andrews said.
Council to Homeless Persons’ CEO Jenny Smith said that, given the increase in rough sleeping being reported by homelessness services in Frankston, and the dire shortage of affordable accommodation, we “need every single dollar allocated in the budget”.
“Last year 14,740 Victorians reported that mental illness was one of the factors that forced them to seek assistance from homelessness services,” she said.
“Providing appropriate accommodation for those experiencing mental illness is critical to preventing homelessness, as well as to regaining and maintaining stability.
“As crisis accommodation can only function as a temporary measure, people must be able to exit into permanent and affordable accommodation.
“With the private rental market in Frankston and on the peninsula now out of reach of people on very low incomes, the only way to stem rising homelessness is for both state and federal governments to invest in more public and community housing as there are still 33,000 people waiting for public housing in Victoria.”
The funding package aims to help 19,000 people at risk of or experiencing homelessness statewide over the next five years, particularly rough sleepers, young people and veterans.
About $60 million will be spent on a range of projects, including accommodation for those with severe mental illness in Frankston, as well as 120 new or developed housing units statewide, 30 unit-supported housing for women and children, and new accommodation with targeted support services in the west of Melbourne.
