How it all started
In 2020, the Victorian Government invested $6 million to move nearly 1,000 people from the streets into accommodation. What began as a public health measure to slow the virus had another clear outcome: almost nobody slept on the streets.
For a brief moment, our Melbourne community saw what was possible.
Launch Housing created the Melbourne Zero campaign to answer a simple but powerful question: what if this was sustained?
The campaign’s goal? To end rough sleeping in Melbourne by 2030.
Driving change across Melbourne
Before COVID-19, Launch had already introduced Melbourne to a global homelessness solution: Advance to Zero.
The approach tackles homelessness in a hyper-local way and for specific groups (think those experiencing rough sleeping and chronic homelessness, in particular highly vulnerable people like First Nations, or people over 55 years). It brings services, councils and housing providers together in local communities to work as one team to achieve ‘functional zero’ where this form of homelessness becomes rare, brief and doesn’t reoccur.
Evidence-based and proven to work, the approach is grounded in data, collaboration, and housing-first solutions.
For 3 years the Melbourne Zero campaign has helped unite our community, change expectations and show that ending rough sleeping is achievable with the right systems and collective action from frontline services, government, business, philanthropy, and community.
Public activations furthered broad community awareness and action, including:
Raise the Roof
An outdoor photo display at Birrarung Marr featuring large scale portraits of AFL fans who have faced homelessness and since found a safe place to call home.
“The people photographed for this project remind us that homelessness can touch anyone in our community—neighbours, friends, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, people sitting next to us in the stands.” – George Hatvani, Head of Systems Change and Advocacy at Launch Housing
The Melbourne Zero Mural
A striking 13-metre mural by 2024 Archibald Packing Room prize-winning artist, Matt Adnate, in Melbourne’s CBD (Albion Alley) calls on people to imagine a city where no one has to sleep on the streets. Adnate chose to paint a woman and child to represent the growing rate of homelessness for women, children and young people, often as the result of family and domestic violence.
“Unfortunately, we live in a world where people just walk past homeless people on the street and either completely ignore them or assume that it’s their fault. Homelessness is something that absolutely anyone could experience. The truth is that its society that needs to change.” – Matt Adnate
City-wide storytelling and advocacy
From wrapping the pillars of Melbourne Town Hall, to profiling lived experience stories and showcasing solutions, the campaign helped reduce stigma, inspire action and build momentum with over 8,000 people supporting the call for lasting change.
Melbourne Zero helped show what’s possible when people work together with a shared goal and a clear plan.
Achievements include:
What’s next
With Advance to Zero now well established across metro Melbourne, the campaign has reached a natural transition point.
The Melbourne Zero website and campaign channels have now closed – but the mission continues with a growing ambition.
The Victorian Alliance to End Homelessness, co-chaired by Launch Housing, will drive shared advocacy to expand Advance to Zero further across Melbourne and Victoria. And the focus is now broader. From ending rough sleeping in Melbourne by 2030, to ending it across Victoria by 2035.
Continuing the journey
Ending homelessness requires sustained effort – and this next phase is about scaling what works.
Subscribe to our e-news, follow our socials, and stay tuned to our website as we share updates on progress and opportunities to be part of the solutions right here in Melbourne.
Together, we’re closer than ever to a future where no one in our community sleeps rough.
