The state government is supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) people in Victoria who are at risk of homelessness to secure housing.
The government has invested $3 million for a new LGBTIQ+ Homelessness Support Service to help LGBTIQ+ people, including those in Sunbury and the Macedon Ranges, who face challenges accessing housing.
The program will be delivered the Pride in Place consortium co-led by VincentCare Victoria and Drummond Street Services, in partnership with Uniting and Family Access Network.
Equality Minister Harriet Shing said queer Victorians were more than twice as likely to experience homelessness due to discrimination, family rejection and intimate partner violence.
“We’re ensuring that more LQBTIQ+ people are safe, healthy and included in Victoria, with specialised support and reforms to make sure services are inclusive, accessible, and visible,” Ms Shing said.
In a statement, the government said the program will address homelessness by supporting services to improve the safety of queer people, “and strengthen connections between the specialist homelessness service system and LGBTIQ+ support services”.
“The program will include a team of 12 specialist staff working across homelessness services and LGBTIQ+ support services in Victoria – nine in Melbourne and three in Ballarat, so people can access support they need, where they need it,” the government said.
“The specialist staff include initial assessment and planning workers, case workers and people from the LGBTIQ+ community with a lived experience of homelessness. This team will assist LGBTIQ+ people to navigate the specialist homelessness and housing system and connect them to other supports.
“This initiative forms a critical component of the Government’s long-term strategy to drive equality across the state.”
Housing Minister Danny Pearson said he was proud of the “innovative program” that will mploy specialist workers to support the LGBTIQ+ community access housing services and be supported throughout their entire journey into a new home and beyond”.
