HOMELESSNESS IN VICTORIA

 

Tonight, there will be 116,427 people who will be homeless in Australia. That's an increase of more than 14,000 people experiencing homelessness over five years. Homelessness can affect anyone you know - your neighbour, your friends, even your family. There is a wide diversity of people turning to us for help for many different reasons.

Homelessness is underpinned by issues such as family violence, a shortage of affordable housing, unemployment, mental illness, family breakdown, financial distress and drug and alcohol misuse.

Whether they are couchsurfing, sleeping rough in cars or tents, The Salvation Army engages with people living on the fringes of the community.

HOMELESSNESS IN BARWON

Homelessness in Barwon is getting worse. There is a chronic lack of affordable housing due to rising rental costs and increased cost of living. There is also a strong link with family violence. 

Across the region, all these factors are leading to the demonstrable increase in demand for homelessness services. The recent loss of 40 beds due to the closure of The Carlton has also further impacted on local emergency accommodations. In the last year, SalvoConnect Barwon was unable to assist 4,260 clients with housing at the time of presentation. This included 1,253 dependents under the age of 19 years old.

OUR IMPACT

The funds raised in Walking Hope supports housing outcomes for men, women, and children who were homeless or at risk of homelessness in the Barwon Region.

The money raised in the previous Walking Home events supported the opening of Lazarus Centre at 202 Myers St, Geelong. Lazarus Centre enables people who are homeless or isolated in the community to access showers, washing machines, meals, homelessness workers and volunteers to build a community. The Centre will offer housing assessments and pathways out of homelessness.