Homelessness 2020

Continuing Victoria’s leadership role, the Premier John Brumby announced in July 2009 the development of a new strategy - Homelessness 2020.  It will require a collective vision and effort to help people experiencing homelessness transition to independence and participate more fully in the social and economic life of Victoria. 

This Homelessness 2020 strategy discussion paper aims to promote discussion and debate within government, community, business and the service delivery system.  The paper does not provide the answers but poses themes, questions and concepts to assist our discussion and shape the directions of our response. 

Read the Homelessness 2020 strategy discussion paper (Word Size 113KB, Pages 26) | Homelessness 2020 strategy discussion paper (PDF Size 187KB, Pages 24)

Feedback on the Homelessness 2020 Strategy discussion paper

The Department of Human Services - Housing is seeking feedback on this discussion paper through forums and written submissions from a broad cross section of stakeholders, clients and the community. These forums will take place across regional Victoria.  Find out how to register your attendance.

Submissions must be emailed to homelessness2020@dhs.vic.gov.au or sent to:

Homelessness Taskforce
Housing Sector Development
Department of Human Services
L24, 50 Lonsdale St
Melbourne Vic 3000

Submissions close Friday 27 November 2009.

Background

Victoria has achieved much under the:

• 2002 Victorian Homelessness Strategy
• Intergated approach to Family Violence
• Youth Action Plans 1 and 2

First round table
On 29 May 2009, Minister Wynne hosted the first round table to discuss the development of Homelessness 2020. The round table provided representatives from the specialist homelessness sector, from housing workers, to managers, to CEOs, with an opportunity to reflect and converse to shape next steps and directions.

Read the minutes from the first round table (Word Size 66KB, Pages 3)

Second round table
On 2 July 2009, Minister Wynne hosted the second round table. Participants actively discussed whether the key headlines in the Victorian Government's response to the Green Paper reflect the approach that needs to be taken in the strategy; and considered opportunities and new ideas to respond to homelessness.

Read the  minutes from the second round table (Word Size 46KB, Pages 2)

Related information

White Paper on Homelessness
The Australian Government's White Paper: The Road Home - A National Approach to Reducing Homelessness sets the strategic agenda for reducing homelessness to 2020. Homelessness can affect anyone and reducing it is everyone's responsibility. Working together, with national leadership and towards a common goal, homelessness can be prevented. Australia's efforts to reduce homelessness have to be urgent, as well as sustained.

Victorian government response to the Green Paper on Homelessness
This paper provides the Victorian Government's response to the Australian Government's Green Paper on Homelessness Which Way Home. It builds on the Joint Submission on Homelessness from State and Territory Ministers responsible for Housing and the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) informing the Green Paper.

Victorian government response to the Green Paper on Homelessness (Word Size 396KB, Pages 36)

Council of Australian Government (COAG) Funding Agreements 2009
COAG has reaffirmed its commitment to cooperative working arrangements through an historic new Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) that provides an overarching framework for the Commonwealth's financial relations with the States and Territories (the States).

These agreements include:

• National Partnership on Homelessness
• National Partnership on Social Housing
• National Partnership on Remote Indigenous Housing
• National Affordable Housing Agreement
• National Partnership on Nation Building and Jobs Plan