An inner Melbourne council has pledged help for rough sleepers and others facing homelessness, as the number of Victorians in need continues to rise.
City of Yarra Deputy Mayor Misha Coleman expressed support for those at-risk while addressing a recent Fitzroy Town Hall forum, held as part of Homelessness Week.
Support groups and those with direct experience of living rough told the forum about the hidden factors of homelessness, including domestic violence, access to government benefits, language barriers and visas.
With 90% of public housing reserved for priority status applications, those who do not qualify as in need of immediate help can struggle to find homes.
Cr Coleman spoke of a family member who has experienced continual homelessness, saying the issue was close to her heart.
“I’d like to give my commitment that we are really trying hard,” Cr Coleman said.
“What we’re doing, what we have the money to do, is look at public housing and affordable housing for the homeless and to try and make them more available.”
Fitzroy Legal Services’ Megan Fitzgerald said almost half of the estimated 25,000 homeless people in Melbourne were women.
Many have work, but are continually paid on or below the minimum wage or have been through divorces and other family breakdowns.
She said women sleeping on the streets were often subject to domestic and sexual abuse.
“For a lot of women we work with, being visibly homeless is extremely dangerous,” Ms Fitzgerald said.
“They’re particularly vulnerable.”
Homelessness Week is held each August to highlight the coldest time of the year for people living rough.
Official figures show there has been a 4.6% increase in homelessness over the past five years.
Young adults, older Australians and recent migrants were listed as most likely to experience hardship.
(Featured image: The number of people sleeping rough in Melbourne continues to rise. Photo: Alanah Frost)
