Homelessness takes many forms. It includes people living on the street or in cars (‘rough sleeping’), staying temporarily with other households (‘couch surfing’), or living in severely overcrowded dwellings. Brimbank has the highest incidence of homelessness in Melbourne’s west, and the largest number of people accessing specialist homelessness services in Victoria.
Council’s response to homelessness
Preventing and responding to homelessness is the responsibility of all levels of government. In late 2019, Council commissioned a research report into homelessness in Brimbank. The project aimed to address gaps in our local understanding of homelessness, and to clarify the role Council can play to improve outcomes.
The report’s recommendations have been compiled into an implementation plan, which is aligned with Council’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Strategy. The implementation plan includes actions focused on a range of topics, including advocacy, community education, Council protocols, information provision, and research and data collection.
- Read Report 12.8 – Homelessness Research Project (PDF 3.03mb) which was presented to Council at the Ordinary Council Meeting on 23 June 2020. This report includes all the attachments to the Homelessness Research Project.
- Homelessness Implementation Plan (DOC 61.7kb)
- Report Card- Homelessness Implementation Plan (PDF 97kb)
Western Metro Homelessness Services is the primary assessment and intake point for the Brimbank-Melton area.
- Open 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday
- Preferred contact method: sunshine.iap@salvationarmy.org.au
- Call 9313 4300 (option 1)
- 6/147 Harvester Road, Sunshine
IPC Health provides support to people experiencing homelessness and those at risk of homelessness in Brimbank, including primary healthcare, assertive outreach, and case management support.
- Open 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday
- 0491 088 737
- harh@ipchealth.com.au
- 106 Station Rd, Deer Park
Cohealth provides support and advice to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in the West, including assertive outreach, drop-in service, and case management support.
- Open 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday
- 9448 5510
- homelessness.communitysupport@cohealth.org.au
- 215 Nicholson Street, Footscray
The Bolton Clarke Homeless Persons Program provides a local assertive outreach, primary health response.
- Open 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday
- 8379 4500
Speak with a housing or support worker if you are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
- Open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week
- 1800 825 955
Council to Homeless Person provides an advocacy service for people experiencing homelessness.
- Open 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday
- 1800 066 256 (free call)
- angela@chp.org.au to schedule a phone appointment
- 2 Stanley St, Collingwood
Provides after hours information and emergency accommodation for people experiencing an immediate homelessness crisis.
- Open 9am-11pm, seven days per week
- 1800 627 727 available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week
- 29 Grey Street, St Kilda
Frontyard Youth Services provide support for young people aged 16 to 24 experiencing homelessness.
- Open 9am-8pm weekdays, 10am-6pm weekends and public holidays (except Christmas Day)
- 9977 0077 or 1800 800 531
- frontyard@mcm.org.au
- 19 King Street, Melbourne
Information for current public housing tenants, potential social housing tenants and anyone wanting to know about housing in Victoria
For local enquiries
- 9229 4100 - business hours
- sunshine.housing@dhhs.vic.gov.au
For general and after hours enquires
Specialist support service for anyone who is experiencing or afraid of family violence.
- Open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week
- 1800 015 188
- safesteps@safesteps.org.au
- Web Chat www.safesteps.org.au 9am to 12am, Monday to Friday
Ask Izzy is a website that connects people in need with housing, a meal, money help, family violence support, counselling and much more.
Inspire Hope is a local charitable organisation that provides support for disadvantaged people and those living in poverty.
- 0412 425 520
- info@inspirehope.org.au
- Outreach support on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
- Lunch provided on Wednesdays at Tin Shed, 309A Main Road East, St Albans and every second Sunday in the car park at Grow Church, 95 Alfrieda Street, St Albans.
Tenants Victoria is a support organisation providing information, advice and legal representation for Victorians who rent their homes.
- Tenant advice: 9416 2577 -Monday to Friday 9.30am to 1.30pm
- Social housing tenants: 1800 068 860 - Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm
- Community worker link: 9411 1444 - Monday to Friday 9am to 1.30pm
Useful resources
The following offers further information and assistance:
- Printable version of the above listed Homelessness support services (.pdf 134kb)
- Supporting people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness (.pdf 536kb) - this guide provides information on a range of health, legal, housing and support services. Developed by the Assertive Outreach Network.
- Western Homelessness Network Emergency Relief – this guide provides a list of support services and resources for people in the West Metro Area of Melbourne (under ‘Practitioner Resources’ section).
- Council to Homeless Persons - the peak body representing organisations and individuals in Victoria with a commitment to ending homelessness.
- North & West Homelessness Networks - is made up of over 200 programs that are funded to provide assistance to people experiencing, or at risk of homelessness.
- Victorian Council Of Social Services - the peak body for the Victoria’s social and community sector.
- Tenants Victoria - a support organisation providing information, advice and legal representation for Victorians who rent their homes.
Contact us
For more information on what Council is doing to respond to homelessness in Brimbank, please contact our Social Policy Officer on 9249 4000 or email info@brimbank.vic.gov.au