Our role

Homelessness and family violence

The Office of Housing works in partnership with crisis support agencies if you are homeless and need emergency help.

There are many causes of homelessness. Family violence, physical or mental health problems, persistent unemployment, lack of access to affordable housing are just some of the causes.

There are also different types of homelessness, including sleeping in parks or squatting, staying in emergency hostels, ‘couch-surfing’ with family and friends, or living in medium-term rooming houses.

The Victorian Government is committed to tackling disadvantage and homelessness through a number of ways:

The Victorian Homelessness Strategy - Halving homelessness by 2020

The Victorian Government is working with the Federal Government to help halve homelessness by 2020.

This partnership is a result of the Federal Government’s White Paper on Homelessness and funding commitments made through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG).

Homelessness initiatives

The Office of Housing has programs in the areas of family violence, youth homelessness and Indigenous support.

Affordable rental homes

The Office of Housing is currently undertaking the biggest upgrade and improvement of public and community housing in Victoria’s history.

Community housing is run through community and housing partnerships with registered not-for-profit associations, who are regulated by the Housing Registrar.

More homes are being built in areas where there is high demand and better access to services. This means:

• more smaller homes to meet the higher demand for one and two bedroom housing 
• homes that are better connected to services like health, education and transport
• homes that are better connected to employment opportunities

The upgrade and improvement program consists of three major projects:

The Asset Renewal Program

The $500 million asset renewal program is seeing the upgrade and improvement of public and community housing so that there are more, well-designed homes in places where people want to live.

The National Rental Affordability Scheme

The Victorian Government is partnering with the Commonwealth Government in the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS).

The scheme provides $10,000 a year for ten years to encourage developers to build and rent properties to eligible low- middle income Victorians at twenty per cent below market rents.

‘Nation-building’ – the economic stimulus package

Approximately 5,000 social housing units will be built across Victoria as a result of the Commonwealth Government’s $42 billion nation building investment.

Opportunities, support and integration

The Victorian Government is dedicated to tackling disadvantage – making sure wherever you come from, whatever your family background you have the opportunity to achieve your goals in life. A number of support and programs are available to support public housing tenants be a part of A Fairer Victoria:

• Neighbourhood Renewal is narrowing the gap between the most disadvantaged communities in Victoria and the rest of the State by bringing together community, governments, business and service providers. A range of community initiatives and activities are undertaken through the Neighbourhood Renewal program.
• The Public Tenant Employment Program provides training opportunities and connects public tenants with employments.
• The Tenant Participation Framework provides the opportunity for public tenants to work with the Office of Housing and to have a say on issues which affect them.
• The Tenant News newsletter helps public tenants keep in touch with their community.
• The Victoria in Bloom garden competition showcases the creativity and innovation of green-thumbed public tenants.
• Housing Week is Victoria's annual celebration of public and community housing residents.