People sleeping rough in Geelong will get a safe and secure roof over their heads, with seven new modular homes opened.
Victorian Minister for Housing Richard Wynne opened the self-contained units in Norlane which will allow vulnerable Victorians to get into stable housing as quickly as possible.
Service provider Neami National will manage the Norlane homes and a team of highly-trained staff will provide intensive support to tenants at the site, helping them move into permanent housing within two years.
The units are part of a $17 million rough sleepers’ package from the Victorian Government which includes 20 new units on three sites across Norlane, Dandenong and Bacchus Marsh.
The Norlane units are the first to be operational and residents can move in from June 2019. Seven modular units will provide accommodation to support staff and six tenants.
The 20 relocatable one-bedroom units are built to a high standard, with landscaping and fencing designed to ensure that tenants and residents feel these homes are a part of the community.
The rough sleepers’ package also includes assertive outreach workers who have been active in Geelong since the program began in January 2019.
These workers offer the first point of contact for rough sleepers, providing mobile assessments and support to around 120 people a year.
The rough sleepers’ package is one part of the Victorian Government’s Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Plan, which includes more than $45 million in projects to help break the cycle of homelessness.
Source: Vic Government