We’re excited to share with you all the work we’ve done together this year to help end homelessness in Melbourne in our 2023–24 Impact Report.
This year was particularly challenging for many Melbournians. Cost of living, housing and rental crises continued to put pressure on people and families. Rents have increased 14% over the last year, and vacancy rates are at near-record lows. It’s harder than ever to find affordable housing in Melbourne. At the same time, wait times for social housing have increased with more than 50,000 people currently without safe, secure and long-term housing.
Other factors combine to make accessing housing even more difficult for our most vulnerable community members. Family and domestic violence is a significant factor that forces many women, children and young people into homelessness or insecure housing. Women escaping family and domestic violence make up almost 40% of all people seeking homelessness services in Victoria. Mental and physical health concerns can also make it challenging for some people to secure and sustain a home, especially if they’ve experienced homelessness for extended periods.
Everyone deserves a safe night’s sleep. In this Impact Report, we demonstrate how we successfully pilot innovative programs, add to Melbourne’s social housing supply, and coordinate services across systems to help Melbournians get and keep their housing.
Measuring the impact of our work each year helps us to strengthen the evidence base we need to advocate for systems change and further investment in homelessness services that work and housing solutions for everyone.
Thank you to everyone that has worked with us, partnered with us and supported us this year. No single person or organisation can end homelessness alone, it is through partnerships and collective action that we drive impact and change. Please take the time to read about the impact you have helped make.
Read the full impact report at impact.launchhousing.org.au.
Laura Mahoney
Executive Director – Homelessness Solutions and Impact
