Council to Homeless Persons

19/08/2026

We’ll see you in Ringwood tonight, for the Maroondah leg of !

If you’ve booked your spot at the community forum, we’ll see you tonight at 6pm.

The Realm library has also been running some special activities to coincide with our visit and put together a great display of books on housing and homelessness.

You can drop in to see the exhibition and to fold an origami house or two in a session with Walk in Her Shoes panelist, Maidie Graham on Friday 21 August.

Find more details for that session here: https://events.yourlibrary.vic.gov.au/event?id=81624

18/08/2026

''Homelessness is about more than statistics — it’s about people, their dignity, and the circumstances that can leave any of us without a safe place to call home.”

Sam Villalobos is joining our panel at the City of Melbourne community forum, as a homelessness worker and lived experience advocate.

“I hope that by sharing my story at the Walk In Her Shoes forum, we can better understand what needs to change and why the voices of people with lived experience must be part of shaping the solutions.”

Come along to hear more from Sam, alongside local MP Ellen Sandel, and
homelessness sector workers and leaders, discussing the action needed to end homelessness in Melbourne and beyond.

🗓️ Monday 31 August, 6:30pm
📍 Town Hall Commons, Swanston Street
👉 Register here: https://lnkd.in/gYVkx3ue

13/08/2026

You have two more chances to catch the exhibition and forum night, before we bring the statewide tour to a close.

Next Wednesday 19 August, we’ll be in Maroondah. Then on Monday 31 August, we’ll be heading to Town Hall Commons in the Melbourne CBD.

As Maroondah panellist Maide Graham from Uniting Vic Tas says, we all have a role to play in ending homelessness.

“At Uniting, we believe affordable, safe and secure housing is an essential human right. People using our services often tell us that the lack of affordable housing is one of the major barriers to improving their circumstances.

“Addressing homelessness is everyone's responsibility. At an organisational, community and individual level we all have the power to advocate for change.”

Book your spot for the Maroondah forum here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/walk-in-her-shoes-exhibition-and-forum-maroondah-tickets-1988461858948

And book your spot for the Melbourne forum night here:

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/walk-in-her-shoes-exhibition-and-forum-melbourne-tickets-1995878288689?aff=oddtdtcreator

12/08/2026

It was great to get out and about for the many events on throughout 2026!

Our CEO Deborah Di Natale caught up with Federal Minister for Housing and Homelessness Claire O’Neill at the launch of Homelessness Australia’s new Strategic Plan – a strong national vision focussed on prevention, systems change and sector capability.

CHP hosted an insightful Ask Me Anything webinar with a panel of lived experience experts sharing what drives them to use their voice for advocacy.

We also travelled out to Gippsland for a very special instalment of and dropped in to visit member organisation Quantum Support Services.

Something that came through very strongly through this trip is that Gippslanders have a deep sense of pride and commitment to helping one another out in tough times.

This was heartening to hear and gives us hope that we can keep building the community momentum to put ending homelessness front and centre on the political agenda.

12/08/2026

“Five long years during which young people have been suffering.”

Professor Patrick McGorry OAM recently told the ABC the failure to deliver 500 supported housing places for young people – a recommendation from the mental health Royal Commission back in 2021 – is “a scandal”.

“It's just staggering that this, such a simple and effective measure has not been made a top priority in the implementation phase … if you're not safe and secure, treating people's mental illness is impossible.”

Listen to full story: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/am/calls-for-promised-youth-housing-places/106989474

In CHP’s election platform, we urge this commitment be honoured, so that Victoria’s young people have access to the stability and safety needed for recovery.

Read the platform: https://chp.org.au/publication/chp-election-priorities-guide-2026/

Homelessness groups in Victoria are urging new Premier Ben Carroll to deliver on a key Royal Commission recommendation to create 500 supported housing places for young people experiencing homelessness, and living with mental illness.

11/08/2026

Research shows homelessness can dramatically endanger a person’s health – tragically, even shaving decades off average life expectancy.

In a time when we’re experiencing the highest rates of homelessness in living memory, we need to start treating this an issue of urgent public health concern.

The August 2026 edition of magazine spotlights “Homelessness as health emergency”, with authors reflecting on health impacts, responses, and why we need systemic change.

Join us for an exciting launch event on Wednesday 2 September (1:30-3pm) at narrm narrgu library, featuring readings and conversations considering this important theme.

A huge thanks to cohealth for partnering with us to produce this edition.

Come along to pick up a free copy of the magazine:

🗓️ Wednesday 2 September, 1:30-3pm
📍 narrm narrgu library, Melbourne CBD
👉 Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/parity-magazine-launch-homelessness-as-health-emergency-tickets-1996068684167?aff=oddtdtcreator

Explore why homelessness needs an urgent public health response at the launch of Parity magazine's August 2026 edition.

10/08/2026

Tomorrow night – Tuesday 11 August – is Census night.

The data collected will give a picture of Australian demographic trends – including how many people are experiencing homelessness.

This data influences the allocation of funds to services such as refuges, family violence programs, transitional housing, and programs for young people. So, it’s important we get it right.

Homelessness workers have a key role to play in getting people counted, and people experiencing homelessness have a window of 10-16 August to complete a Census form.

This guide offers a simple explainer on how to answer key census questions to reflect an experience of homelessness:https://mcusercontent.com/7462ad7117ca255a2a1cd11ea/files/a1dbf8a7-62a1-0441-a1c5-903d95eb4dc5/Guide_for_Homelessness_Support_Workers.pdf

06/08/2026

“I want other people to have a beautiful, bright future like mine.”

Tonight is on in Latrobe, at the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre. Homelessness workers, local political representatives and people who have experienced homelessness will be sitting down together to discuss what needs to happen to give people in the region and across Victoria a better, more secure future.

It will be a poignant way to mark Homelessness Week, and we look forward to seeing you there.

We’re also heading to Maroondah in a couple of weeks and your last chance to catch the roadshow is in the City of Melbourne on 31 August.

Register here to secure your spot at the forum night at Town Hall Commons:
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/walk-in-her-shoes-exhibition-and-forum-melbourne-tickets-1995878288689?aff=oddtdtcreator

05/08/2026

CHP's Election Priorities Guide is out now.

This November’s Victorian election is a crucial choice for our political representatives, and for the voters of our state.

Record numbers of Victorians are coming to homelessness services. In a dual housing and cost of living crisis, people from all walks of life now need assistance: working Victorians who are making great sacrifices but still struggling to pay the rent; women and children leaving family violence; young people who should be dreaming their futures but instead are worrying where they’ll sleep tonight; and older Victorians who after a lifetime of contributing to society now find themselves couch-surfing or sleeping rough.

Homelessness can happen to anyone, and the human cost is tragic: people experiencing homelessness in Australia die at an average age of just 44.

The good news is that we know how to end homelessness. The evidence is clear and the models are available – some have been achieved overseas, and many others right here in Victoria.

What’s been missing is the decisive government investment to implement those solutions at scale.

So this election, we ask Victoria’s political candidates to choose to prioritise the forward-thinking, community-building responses that will end homelessness, as outlined CHP’s Election Priorities Guide.

And we ask Victorians to choose to give their votes to those candidates who put housing fairness first.

Read the full Election Priorities Guide at:https://chp.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/CHP-Election-Priorities-Guide-2026.pdf

04/08/2026

We’re pleased to see that the Hon Nick Staikos has retained ministerial responsibility for homelessness in today’s ministerial reshuffle. This continuity is important when Victoria is in the middle of a homelessness crisis.

And it’s fantastic to see “Homelessness” now explicitly included in the name of this portfolio. It’s a statement of intent to prioritise this crucial issue, and also recognizes that ending homelessness is about more than houses (though we urgently need more of those!) – it’s about combining housing with ongoing support.

Now it’s time for action to match the words. We have 91 days left till the Government enters caretaker mode – there’s so much the Government can do in that time.

Look out for the launch of Council to Homeless Person’s election platform tomorrow, where we’ll outline the actions we want to see prioritised.