The St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria yesterday launched a call to action ahead of the state election, calling on all parties to commit to a long-term housing strategy focused on prevention, housing supply and community support.
The launch of its Strategic Advocacy Plan 2026–2030 at Victoria’s Parliament House, brought together government, opposition and crossbench members of parliament alongside sector leaders and people with lived experience – a powerful signal of broad, cross-party recognition that homelessness, and the prevention of it, is one of Victoria’s most urgent challenges.
More than 30,000 Victorians are experiencing homelessness and almost half of all low-income households living just one crisis away from homelessness and long-term hardship.
The society’s plan calls on the Victorian Government to partner with the sector to deliver more social and affordable homes, invest in early intervention, and formally recognise the role of “social capital”, which is defined as the community networks and trusted relationships critical to keeping people in long-term homes. The plan includes a vision for a “No Wrong Door” service system: one where people are met once, heard once, and helped quickly.
Interim Group CEO Charlie Spendlove said the plan represented a fundamental shift in how Victoria must respond to homelessness.
“Victoria is in a social emergency. We’re not asking government to solve this alone, we’re offering to partner with them to prevent homelessness before it starts. That shift from crisis response to prevention is what this plan is all about,” he said.
“There’s a razor-fine edge between living in a low-income household and living in poverty and homelessness. We see it every day, families choosing between rent and putting food on the table, prioritising the roof over their heads while cutting back on food, utilities and healthcare. We must act before people reach that edge,” Ms Spendlove said.
State President Brendan Podbury said the plan was grounded in nearly two centuries of frontline experience.
“Our members and volunteers see every day what works and what doesn’t. They see the ‘choice’ women are forced to make between a violent home and the backseat of a car. They see families stuck in a cycle of reactive support. When the right supports are in place, people don’t just survive, they rebuild. That’s the case we’re taking to government,” he said.
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One crisis away: St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria calls on government to partner to end homelessness (St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria)
