Homelessness can be defined in many ways – and includes people who are rough sleeping (street homelessness), sleeping in cars, on couches, in overcrowded, crisis and temporary housing. At its core it’s a lack of suitable permanent accommodation.  

Having a home is a basic human right that affords people dignity. Only more homes and tailored support can end homelessness.  

Over 30,000 Victorians don’t have anywhere to call home on any given night. Another estimated 350,000 are at risk of becoming homeless, struggling to keep a roof over their head. Cost of living pressures and lack of housing supply mean these numbers are likely to continue to climb.  

The top two reasons that people seek homelessness assistance in Victoria are family and domestic violence and financial difficulties. More than one in five people supported by Victorian homelessness services in are children under the age of 18.  Indigenous Australians are over seven times more likely to experience homelessness; while older women are the fastest growing homelessness cohort.  

We need to take action today.