Melbourne Zero has an ambitious goal: To end rough sleeping in Melbourne by 2030. When we achieve this goal we will become Australia’s first city to end rough sleeping.  

The movement uses a proven international method where efforts are targeted to ending homelessness for a specific group of people (for example, young people, veterans or people experiencing chronic homelessness).  

Melbourne Zero’s goal is to end homelessness for those who are sleeping rough on our streets. 

In practice this means making any experience of homelessness in the community rare, brief and once off – what's known as functional zero, where the number of people leaving chronic homelessness and finding permanent housing is equal to or greater than people still in homelessness. 

When you join the Melbourne Zero movement, you’ll be kept informed of the data and stories that show progress and challenges in local areas across Melbourne as we work towards zero rough sleeping in Melbourne by 2030. You’ll discover cities that have achieved zero homelessness for specific groups already, and the things (big and small) you can do to be part of positive change in your local area.  

Your visible support and actions help build empathy, momentum and a public licence to scale this proven approach across Melbourne council areas not yet using the zero methodology, to deliver life-changing outcomes in your community like it has elsewhere. And all this supports partners working on the ground to advocate for the increased housing and wraparound support needed to ensure people sleeping rough can access and sustain housing. 

Homelessness is a complex problem and the solution requires more housing and support, so people can access and sustain their housing. This needs collaboration and accountability.  

Part of the problem is that we don’t currently know how many people are experiencing rough sleeping homelessness across Melbourne, as the only city-wide data available is via the census every 4 years.   

By-Name Lists open the door to zero rough sleeping across Melbourne:  When someone sleeping rough is known by name, supports and resources can be coordinated effectively until that person is housed. This is a foundation of the Advance to Zero method and the Melbourne Zero movement advocates for all Melbourne local councils to use it.  

There are currently 8 local council areas signed up across Melbourne. Each has developed and is using a By-Name List to coordinate resources and support for each person experiencing rough sleeping homelessness in their area. Since adopting the method each of these areas has seen a significant reduction in the number of people who are sleeping rough.  

Your visible support and actions as part of the Melbourne Zero movement help build local momentum for real change. By joining you become part of the solutions because you’re informed, helping keep your local council area accountable and supporting efforts to scale this proven approach across our city. This also builds pressure - a public license for systemic shifts - supporting partners working on the ground to advocate for the increased housing and wraparound support needed to ensure people sleeping rough can access and sustain their housing. 

Nobody knows how many people are experiencing rough sleeping homelessness across Melbourne because the only data available for the whole city is via the census every 4 years.  

There are a range of challenges to measuring the true number of people who are experiencing rough sleeping homelessness but one thing that’s clear is that census figures do not accurately measure the scale of the problem. They are unreliable and out of date. 

So, the first step is to accurately measure the number of people who are sleeping rough in our city. This means collecting dynamic, real-time, information. This information is used to create what’s known as a “By Name List”, a list containing the name and needs of every person sleeping rough in a specific community. In communities using the Advance to Zero methodology agencies and service providers collaborate to coordinate resources and advocacy until every single person on their By Name List is housed. 

Sleeping rough can refer to the experience of living on the streets, sleeping in parks, or squatting in empty or derelict buildings.  

The majority of people who are experiencing homelessness are not sleeping rough, but rough sleeping is the most visible form of homelessness. Rough sleeping is a dangerous, traumatising and isolating form of homelessness and people sleeping rough often have multiple physical and mental health conditions that put them at greater risk of dying earlier than the general population. 

Rough sleeping is a health emergency.  People sleeping rough on our streets are caught in a cycle: Unable to access the healthcare and support they need without stable housing, but at the same time they cannot access or keep housing without getting the healthcare and support they need. And those health issues escalate each night they are without a home. 

Different countries use different language to describe extended periods of homelessness. You might hear people refer to chronic, persistent, or long-term homelessness.  

In Australia, the Government uses the term “persistent homelessness” to describe people who have longer or multiple experiences of homelessness. People experiencing “persistent homelessness” are those who have been “homeless for more than 7 months in the preceding 24-month period.” 

Community organisations and service providers often use the term "chronic homelessness” to refer to people who have experienced persistent homelessness and also have a physical or mental complexity. 

Yes! Many people don’t realise there are communities that have already ended homelessness for specific populations using the Advance to Zero framework.  

In the USA this includes communities that have ended homelessness for veterans or people experiencing chronic homelessness (in the USA this is defined as someone with a disability who lives in a place not meant for human habitation, or a shelter or crisis accommodation for an extended period, or multiple times over the last three years) including Rockford and Bakersfield. 

Communities in Canada like Medicine Hat have also ended homelessness for veterans or people experiencing chronic homelessness (in Canada, chronic homelessness means long or multiple periods of homelessness).  

Connection and communication are incredibly important for people who may feel otherwise outcast from the community. Many people experiencing homelessness feel invisible. Just a quick ‘hi’ can start to change someone’s day.   

Do keep in mind personal space and the person’s willingness to engage, and ensure you respect boundaries. Avoid taking photos or recordings of the person and ensure you maintain your own privacy.     

If someone is sleeping rough in the areas of Stonnington, Port Phillip, Frankston, Dandenong and City of Melbourne you can call the Rough Sleeper’s Initiative on (03) 8598 1170.    

If they are in the areas of Yarra, Merri-bek or Darebin you can contact the Assertive Outreach team at Launch Housing on (03) 9288 9611.    

In other areas, you can find out who the local housing access point is by calling Opening Doors on 1800 825 555. This is a free call number that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your call will be answered by a worker who can put you in touch with an organisation closest to you.   

Yes - we are always seeking to broaden and strengthen the network of councils and partners working towards Melbourne Zero. We would love to hear from you. Please Get in touch.   

Melbourne Zero uses the Advance to Zero method, already proven to end homelessness in communities overseas. Using a housing-first approach, this is underpinned by real-time data provided by a By-Name List, and deep collaboration. 

Advance to Zero involves service providers in each local community working together (inc homelessness outreach, healthcare, housing, legal and community support services) with council to get to know each person who is sleeping rough and add them to their local ‘By-Name List.’ 

The By-Name List is a person-centred approach to ending rough-sleeping - a simple process with a powerful impact. Outreach workers go to meet each person sleeping rough in our community. They get to know the person by name, learning who they are and what they need.  

Services are then brought together to help that person to access permanent housing. It's an integrated approach where everyone works together to find housing for each person on the By-Name List, and supports them to sustain that housing. 

Collaboration is key in this client-centred, housing first approach as the service system works together to share data and build trust with people who have often been moved from service to service over their many years of homelessness.   

If interested to know more, we have a whole page that explains the By-Name List in detail.

Launch Housing is powering the Melbourne Zero movement, alongside 50+ partners, 8,000+ people across Melbourne.  

Launch Housing is an independent Melbourne-based community organisation passionately committed to ending homelessness. From providing high-quality housing and an innovative range of support, education and employment services, the organisation brings solutions to homelessness under one roof for thousands at risk of or experiencing the crisis and trauma of homelessness. Working across metropolitan Melbourne, Launch Housing combines direct action with advocacy, research and innovation to drive widespread change. The organisation believes housing is a basic human right that affords people with dignity and wants to create lasting societal change to help people most in need in our community.    

Launch Housing believes Melbourne can be a world-leading city in ending homelessness.