Homeless experts to open up

HOMELESSNESS in the Geelong and Barwon southwest region will be investigated through a state parliament committee on Monday.

Community organisations and service providers will share their experiences with politicians from the Legislative Council legal and social issues committee.

Chair Fiona Patten said there was “unprecedented demand for services to assist people who are homeless or facing homelessness”.

“We will be hearing from organisations operating in the region about the needs they have and what can be done to help address homelessness in the southwest,” she said.

Ms Patten said representatives from The Geelong Project, working to reduce youth homelessness through early intervention, would be among those to speak at the hearing.

“We will be speaking with representatives from Emma House, operating in Warrnambool, who are focusing on solutions for people who are forced into homelessness because of violent domestic situations,” she said.

The committee has held 11 public hearings in regional Victoria and Melbourne, and received 395 submissions.

Monday’s hearing, from 10am-4.30pm, will be broadcast on the Victorian Parliament website. See the schedule at parliament.vic.gov.au/lsiclc/article/4285.