Specialist homelessness services for Indigenous Victorians will soon be available in the heart of Melbourne, with many seeking help from the increasingly unaffordable private rental market.
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The housing support and outreach service centre will be at 227 Bourke Street, a City of Melbourne building located close to the busy Swanston Street intersection and tram stops.
It's due to open in late August or early September and will be operated by Ngwala Willumbong Aboriginal Corporation in partnership with the local council.
An estimated 15 per cent of the city's rough sleepers and chronic homeless population identify as Aboriginal, City of Melbourne data shows.
Housing Minister Harriet Shing said about 30 per cent of people interacting with homelessness services come directly from the private rental market so culturally-safe services are needed to help people with the transition.
"Aboriginal organisations are in a really good position not just to provide that immediate support but to connect people with the services that they and their families need," Ms Shing said.
It is not just rough sleepers and people already experiencing homelessness seeking assistance, according to Ngwala chief executive De-Joel Upkett
"We are starting to see the inflation crisis hit communities that are struggling to afford to pay bills," he said.
"So we seeing working parents walk through the doors, we see children and families walk through the doors."
The 12-month pilot centre will be open from Tuesday to Saturday and is funded as part of a $4.5 million boost to Ngwala, which already operates programs in St Kilda and outreach vans in two locations.
An estimated 100,000 people interact with homelessness services in Victoria each year.
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Australian Associated Press
