Help for region’s homeless

TEMPORARY homes will be built in Norlane to provide housing to the region’s homeless.

The State Government yesterday announced 19 modular homes were planned for Norlane, Bacchus Marsh and Dandenong through the Towards Home program. An outreach team will also be established in Geelong to actively seek out and work with the region’s homeless, through a $19 million State Government assertive outreach program.

Housing Minister Martin Foley said the temporary homes and outreach workers would help to improve the lives of Geelong’s homeless.

“These new homes and the support network connected to them will give people sleeping rough a pathway to permanent and stable housing as quickly as possible,” Mr Foley said.

“We’re ensuring those at risk of or experiencing homelessness are supported in a targeted and holistic way.”

Lara MP John Eren welcomed the announcement.

“These modular homes will give rough sleepers in and around Norlane the opportunity to get off the streets and into some decent accommodation,” he said. “That’s great for them, and also great for our community.”

The Department of Health and Human Services will work with homeless service providers to identify people to move into the properties once built, with priority given to people with a connection the area.

The program provides housing for up to two years.

The Towards Home program has delivered 30 temporary homes in Preston, Reservoir, Chadstone, Doveton and Brighton, with the new sites in Norlane, Bacchus Marsh and Dandenong being finalised.

The latest figures from one of the Geelong region’s peak homelessness agencies, SalvoConnect Barwon, show about 1500 of those seeking assistance in 2017-18 were “without tenure”.

Geelong’s homeless population increased twice as fast as its actual population between the 2011 and 2016 censuses — jumping from 664 to 816.