IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS

VISIT A LOCAL HOMELESSNESS ACCESS POINT SERVICE (click here or see more information below)

AFTER HOURS, OR IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THE CLOSEST HOMELESSNESS ACCESS POINT SERVICE CALL 1800 825 955

(this number is not a free call from all mobile networks but you can ask for a call back.)

Northern and Western Homelessness Networks

The Northern & Western Homelessness Networks (NWHNs) are networks of Specialist Homelessness funded services operating in Melbourne's North & West. For more information, view the About NWHN page of the site.

As well as offering general information on homelessness assistance, this website facilitates communication between NWHN members, providing them with a range of relevant news and resources.

The Northern & Western Metropolitan homelessness service system (HSS) is made up of over 200 programs that are funded to provide assistance to people experiencing, or at risk of homelessness.

Six of these services are funded as access points to the homelessness service system (5 general and one for young people). Five  services are funded through the Transitional Housing Management (THM) Program, providing medium term housing. The remaining programs are funded as Specialist Homelessness Services to support people to prevent or end the experience of homelessness.

Accessing homelessness services

To access homelessness support and transitional housing, you need to make contact with a Homelessness access point service. Attached is a list of the access point services in Melbourne's north and west.

Access point services:

• provide an Initial Assessment and Planning (IA&P) service – working with people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness to assess their immediate needs and risks and work with them to develop a short term plan,
  
  
• prioritise for access to homelessness resources such a refuges, case managed support and assistance to find private rental accommodation,
  
  
• have limited funds available to purchase emergency accommodation, private rental and housing establishment. 

Melbourne is experiencing a housing crisis and the numbers of people who can not find a safe and affordable home are increasing as a result. 

This means that access point services can't always see everyone who presents to the service each day. The services also do not have enough funding to purchase emergency accommodation for all those people presenting who have nowhere to sleep.