Changing lives for the better

The From Homelessness to a Home (H2H) program has been rewarding and challenging in equal measure this year, but it is definitely on track to change people’s lives for the better.

The $150M Victorian Government-funded initiative was launched in February to provide nearly 2000 households across the state with access to stable medium and long-term housing and support packages to people experiencing homelessness who were living in emergency accommodation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Following Housing First principles, the primary aim of H2H is to house people who have experienced chronic homelessness as quickly as possible, to prevent further harm and trauma from sleeping rough or living in emergency accommodation. Once a person has a safe place to live they can begin their recovery journey and their other non-housing needs can be met more effectively.

As an organisation that has a long history of both providing and advocating for more housing and integrated support programs, we welcomed the opportunity to partner with Mind Australia to deliver H2H across the Loddon, Mallee, and Barwon regions.

Together we are providing a seamless housing and support service to 237 shared clients despite operating for much of the year in a lockdown environment where access to suitable housing has been difficult.