We engage actively with the media to raise public awareness, amplify the voices of people experiencing homelessness, and generate the cultural and social change needed to end homelessness.
People sleeping rough on the streets are experiencing the most visible and extreme form of homelessness. “Making a difference… Sometimes it starts from the very littlest thing, even just offering a few dollars and saying, ‘Hey, how are you?’” -Ivy, a Victorian who was previously homeless In our cities, rough sleeping (also known as street […]
When most people think of homelessness, they tend to think of someone sleeping rough on the streets. In fact sleeping rough is only one type of homelessness and at the Census in 2011 only about 6% of people who were experiencing homelessness were rough sleeping (the Census is being conducted again in August 2016 so […]
In the course of our work at Launch Housing our teams witness some incredible milestones for the people we support. Launch Housing’s Program Manager at Elizabeth Street Common Ground, Stuart McGougan reflects here on a special moment he shared with a long-term resident at the supportive accommodation site. It reminds us all of the impact […]
By Clare Lawson An end to street homelessness in Melbourne? Sounds ambitious, but it is entirely possible. Already, real progress has been made towards ending street homelessness, right here in Melbourne. A pilot project in the City of Port Phillip has achieved a 27% decrease in rough sleeping in the area between February 2021 to […]
In 2020 Launch Housing was selected to become the largest provider of services for the Victorian Government’s From Homelessness to a Home (H2H) initiative. The initiative was designed to provide people who are residing in emergency accommodation due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic with access to stable medium and long term housing and support. H2H […]
The Women’s, Launch Housing and HousingFirst have collaborated to develop the Cornelia Program – an Australian-first initiative that aims to break the cycle of homelessness and support pregnant women and new mothers. The program provides women with access to transitional accommodation in a new apartment complex comprising 36 studio apartments, as well as tailored wrap […]
We are excited to share HomeGround Real Estate has won the REIV Awards for Excellence Community Service Award! The Award recognises the contribution of agencies or individuals to community service and actions that make a difference to the wider community. As a social enterprise of Launch Housing, HomeGround Real Estate has community service embedded in its […]
Angie* was just 18 when she experienced the breakdown of her family home and lost her housing stability. Like many young people who first experience homelessness, she was left with no option but to couch surf between friends’ houses – all while trying to keep up with her studies and manage part time work. During […]
In 2020, Emma was renting a property that was barely liveable. A mice infestation meant she couldn’t store food in the kitchen cupboards, the bathroom roof was covered in mould due to a lack of built-in ventilation and a retaining wall next door threatened to collapse on the property at any minute. “They were continuously […]
In 2020 Launch Housing was selected to become the largest provider of services for the Victorian Government’s From Homelessness to a Home program. The From Homelessness to a Home (H2H) initiative was created to provide people who are residing in emergency accommodation due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic with access to stable medium and long […]
2020 was a year like no other for homeless charities. Not just for us, but for all Melburnians as the health crisis brought home both our inter-connectedness and our common need for shelter, hope and a home. Last year we were able to hit the streets during the pandemic and helping homeless people quickly into […]
In 1964 a small group of passionate social justice activists set up Hanover Welfare Services, one of Launch Housing’s predecessor organizations, in Fitzroy, offering counselling and pension management for men experiencing homelessness. One of these founding staff members was Vivienne McCutcheon, Hanover’s first qualified social worker. Vivienne passed away on Tuesday 28 July, 2020. Vivienne, […]
