News
24th January 2019 MATERIAL AID GUIDE
by North and West Children's Resource Coordinators
See the attached guide to some material aid options in Melbourne.
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24th January 2019 HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IN VICTORIA
by Dr Kate Raynor for the Parliament of Victoria
This paper has been produced for the Parliament of Victoria to outline the impact of a changing housing market is impacting on the way Victorians live. This paper provides insights into housing affordability and housing stress in Australia, and specifically in Victoria, over the last decade.
In particular: - Victoria's population is growing rapidly and is increasingly urbanised;
- More people are renting;
- Fewer young people are entering home ownership and they are doing it later;
- Housing is becoming more unaffordable; and
- More people are experiencing housing stress and taking on greater debt burdens.
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24th January 2019 WALK IN HER SHOES TOUR
The 'Walk in her Shoes' tours aim to provide participants with a sense of the experience of applying for an intervention order and the court process involved, including an understanding of the support services available at court. Tours are being offered at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court and the Sunshine Magistrates' Court. Bookings are essential.
Melbourne Magistrates' Court dates:
5th Feb, 5th Mar, 9th Apr, 7th May, 4th Jun, 9th Jul, 8th Aug,
3rd Sep, 8th Oct, 12th Nov, 3rd Dec
Contact Emma Taylor on 9628 7774 or Emma.Taylor@courts.vic.gov.au
Sunshine Magistrates' Court dates:
15th Feb, 5th Apr, 21st Jun, 16th Aug, 25th Oct, 6th Dec
Contact Karen Field on 9300 6274 or karen.field@courts.vic.gov.au
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24th January 2019 FAMILY VIOLENCE AND CHILD INFORMATION SHARING SCHEMES – MARAM
Attached is a summary and update on the Family Violence and Child Information Sharing Schemes and on the Multi Agency Risk Assessment and Management Framework. Specialist homelessness funded services defined as “State-funded homelessness accommodation or homelessness support services (providing access point, outreach and accommodation services)” are listed under Phase 1, and therefore commenced as prescribed sector on 27 September 2018. - https://www.vic.gov.au/infosharing/about-the-reforms.html Phase 2 commences in 2020 and will incorporate: - Disability services,
- Aged care services
- Hospitals
- Ambulance Vic
- Midwives
- Community health services,
- Community housing associations
- Allied health services
- Schools
- Early childhood services
- Local councils.
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5th November 2018 STAYINN COBURG: INSIDE MELBOURNE'S WORST REVIEWED HOTEL
by Rohan Smith in news.com.au
RUBBISH piles up inside rooms at a motel in Melbourne’s north and visitors rarely open their doors. When they do, they reluctantly hand over rent.
The reviews are devastatingly honest. “This place is junky city … never staying in this flea invested (sic) sh*t box they call a motel,” reviewer Kyle Windebank wrote. “Terrible place. Police there every day. Other residents all druggies. Would not stay again,” Richard Williams wrote. “If you would like to visit the worst hotel on the planet, here you are,” Michael Johnson wrote. This is the StayInn Motel in Coburg, 11km north of the Melbourne CBD. In July last year, it was the site of a shooting when an argument over money spiralled out of control. A new documentary from the team at VICE saw filmmakers spend four months at the motel exploring the reasons behind the negative reviews and the characters who call it “home” — in the truest sense of the word. Though the StayInn still functions as a commercial motel, it also functions as crisis accommodation, offering rooms to those who need it most. To watch the documentary, click here. The Stay Inn will also air on SBS VICELAND later in November. To read the full article click here.
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11th October 2018 SHADOW FEDERAL MINISTER FOR HOUSING PROMOTES INCLUSIONARY ZONING
by Western Homelessness Networker
Senator the Hon Doug Cameron, Shadow Minister for Housing, outlined yesterday Labor's housing policy for the forthcoming Federal election. Senator Cameron was speaking at a consulation on women, housing and homelessness, organised by Ged Kearney MP, Member for Cooper. Senator Cameron strongly endorsed the mandating of inclusionary zoning in new private developments, citing inclusionary zoning rates as high as 50% in London. Senator Cameron also identified that the Labor Government will be focussing on the creation of housing options for older women and for young people leaving care. He also promoted an end to negative gearing and capital gains tax, a uniform vacancy tax, improved planning arrangements, support for the bond aggregator, with the additional of payments to address the gap between the development of community housing and the rent that someone in receipt of Centrelink payments can pay. Senator Cameron also identified that, if elected, the Labor Government would re-establish the Housing Supply Council and a National homelessness peak body.
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11th October 2018 CHEAPER, FAIRER PUBLIC TRANSPORT FOR VULNERABLE VICTORIANS
by Victorian Government
The Andrews Labor Government is making it cheaper and easier for vulnerable Victorians to catch public transport, with new emergency relief tickets to be trialled for 12 months, commencing immediately.
Many vulnerable Victorians are being given fines they can’t pay and becoming unnecessarily caught up in the legal system.
The current Day Pass was not meeting the needs of disadvantaged people – particularly those experiencing complex issues that need more appointments, and more time to attend them.
Like the Day Pass, the new Weekly and Monthly Travel Passes will be valid in zones 1 and 2 and on regional town buses, and will be available for approved community organisations to buy and distribute to their clients.
The passes will also be available to schools to help them support students at risk of disengaging from education.
The Day, Weekly and Monthly Travel Passes are heavily discounted to make them more affordable to the organisations supporting vulnerable Victorians.
Schools and community organisations can apply for travel passes by emailing ticketingservices@ptv.vic.gov.au
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11th October 2018 PORTABLE LONG SERVICE LEAVE... AT LAST
by ASU and Western Homelessness Networker
Congratulations to the Australian Services Union for successfully getting portable long service leave in the community sector through Parliament. The 15 year ASU campaign culminated in the LONG SERVICE BENEFITS PORTABILITY BILL 2018 being passed in Victorian Parliament. Click 'more' for further infomration about the scheme. You can join the ASU through the following link: https://www.asu.asn.au/asujoin
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11th October 2018 CAREINMIND WELLBEING SUPPORT SERVICE
by CAREinMIND
CAREinMIND™ Wellbeing Support Service is a free phone and online counselling support service. CAREinMIND™ Wellbeing Support Service is for anyone of any age who is feeling the pressures and stresses of everyday life. - It is for people who live, work or study in northern, western and central Melbourne.
- The service is available 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
Call 1300 096 269 to speak to a counsellor. If you need more intense support click here to find more programs, in this region, available with a referral from your GP or visit the More Services page.
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11th October 2018 LEAVING CARE SUPPORT EXTENDED TO 21 FOR MANY YOUNG PEOPLE
by Victorian Government and Western Homelessness Networker
Huge congratulations to all who participated in The Home Stretch Campaign to increase the leaving care age to 21. The Andrews Labor Government has now extended supports for young people leaving care up to the age of 21.
Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos announced $11.6 million over five years to roll out Home Stretch starting in the first half of 2019, which will give young people the option of remaining with their carer until the age of 21.
The program will arm young people with the tools they need to live on their own two feet, as well as extending care allowance support to foster and kinship carers.
In addition, specialised workers will provide tailored support to young people, helping them to get jobs and access education, as well training and life coaching to help young people set goals and aspirations for their future.
Carers will also be eligible to be reimbursed for the costs of caring for the young person. Young people leaving residential care will be eligible for support with housing costs.
This investment means 250 more young care leavers will receive these supports as a matter of course.
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11th October 2018 RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES AMENDMENT BILL PASSES
by Western Homelessness Networker
Victorian Parliament has passed the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill, improving the legislative rights of Victorian tenants. Reforms outlined in the Amendment Bill will be implemented in a staged way over the next few years. The major reforms are: - No-Reason notices to vacate will be gone
- A suite of protections for victim-survivors of family violence
- A “reasonableness test” for all evictions - Stronger protections against eviction for late payment
- Minimum standards for rental properties
- Centrepay must be accepted by landlords
- VCAT can refer a tenant to a financial counsellor
- VCAT may dismiss an eviction if the tenant has a need for social support or alternative accommodation
- Free access to see if you’re on a residential tenancy database
- Improved rights to have pets
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11th October 2018 50 LIVES 50 HOMES HOUSING FIRST PROJECT
by Australian Policy Online
The 50 Lives 50 Homes project (hereafter referred to as 50 Lives) is a Housing First and collective impact response to ending homelessness in Perth, and the first of its kind in Western Australia. The project commenced in 2015 and takes a collaborative approach to house and provide support for Perth’s most vulnerable people experiencing homelessness. This second evaluation report describes the progress to date of the 50 Lives project in relation to housing and supporting vulnerable rough sleepers. Click here for a link to the article and report
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8th August 2018 HOMELESSNESS WEEK STALL IN NORTHERN HOSPITAL
by Northern Homelessness Networker
The DPV Health Homelessness Team, with support from Whittlesea Community Connections and Have Home Safe Preston, have run an information stall at Northern Hall all week.
The stall will be open until 4pm on Friday 9 August.
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1st December 2017 SUPPORT AND SAFETY HUBS STATEWIDE CONCEPT PAPER
by NIFVs
Support and Safety Hubs Statewide Concept Paper
The Statewide Concept for Support and Safety Hubs, was released recently by the Victorian Government. The Concept outlines design features of the Hubs, including access pathways and key functions.
The next stage will be the development of the practice framework, operational model and management and government structures. These will be informed by statewide and local co-design. A local Hub establishment group will be developed in the coming month to establish a launch site in the North-East Melbourne area. more
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1st August 2017 AUSTRALIA POST FREE 12 MONTH REDIRECTION OF MAIL SERVICE
by Australia Post
Australia Post supports victims of family violence
Australia Post are providing a free 12 month mail redirection service to support victims of family violence. In terms of eligibility, either a letter from a support agency (on their letterhead) verifying that the client has satisfied the agency's criteria for experiencing family violence, an intervention order or a statutory declaration from the police will be required
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1st August 2017 WALK IN MY SHOES TOURS
by Council for homeless persons
As part of Homelessness Week the Council for Homeless Persons are organising a couple of PESP Walk in My Shoes Tours (Tues 8th & Wed 9th) that are open to the public. Please see flier attached, or here. I encourage you to circulate the info below to your networks. People from all sorts of backgrounds would find this activity of interest and benefit – local Government, community services, allied health, Centrelink, Department, Universities etc.
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