Housing and homelessness
Council's action on Housing and Homelessness
Council acknowledges the housing crisis and supports people experiencing homelessness by working to make housing more affordable. We also work and partner with local services to support those sleeping rough, treating them with care and respect.
Outreach services in Port Phillip
Several services conduct daily outreach to key sites across Port Phillip including Launch Housing (RSI), Better Health Network, Ngwala Willumbong, and Sacred Heart Mission’s Journey to Social Inclusion program.
Weekly or planned outreach is undertaken by Alfred Health’s Homeless Outreach Psychiatric Service, depending on client needs and locations. Services such as Salvation Army, Wintringham, and Southside Justice provide outreach upon request or to existing clients, while others like Port Phillip Community Group, First Step, South Port Community Housing Group, St Kilda Community Housing, and Uniting are drop-in or tenant-focused services and do not conduct street outreach.
This mix of proactive, planned, and reactive outreach ensures a broad safety net across the community, tailored to both individual and systemic needs.
All of these organisations have representation at Port Phillip Zero which conducts weekly service coordination meetings to understand the needs of the rough sleepers on the By Name List.
New Homelessness and Affordable Housing Strategy
We’re developing a new 10-year Homelessness and Affordable Housing Strategy for our City. This strategy will guide Council’s role in helping people who are experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness to find secure housing. It will also outline how we support access to affordable and social (public and community) housing.
In April and May this year we asked for your input. Based on what we heard, we’ve developed a draft strategy which outlines key priorities, including prevention, early intervention, partnerships, advocacy and place-based responses. From 6 October to 2 November, we sought community feedback to ensure it reflects local needs and will be impactful. The Homelessness and Affordable Housing Strategy is scheduled for endorsement by Council at the meeting on 10 December.
Explore
Council's strategies, support and housing projects:
Local Support Services
Contact us
Our Housing and Homelessness Services team are here to help.
Send a request on My Port Phillip
Phone: 03 9209 6777
Email: housing@portphillip.vic.gov.au
If you are concerned about someone’s immediate safety or wellbeing, please contact 000.