Demand Surpasses Capacity in Outreach Programs
New research highlights the severe strain on Victoria's homelessness outreach system, showing one outreach worker for every 297 rough sleepers across the state as demand for services surges.
The Council to Homeless Persons (CHP) analysis reveals that government-funded programmes currently support around 1,000 people, despite over 10,600 individuals presenting while already sleeping rough last year.
Assertive outreach, which is meant to engage those not accessing services to connect them with housing, is notably under-resourced. Entire regions, like Gippsland, lack any funded outreach programs, leaving significant gaps in support.
CHP Chief Executive Deborah Di Natale stated, "Assertive outreach is meant to be the front door to the homelessness system for people sleeping rough. But right now, that door simply doesn’t exist in large parts of Victoria and where it does, it’s overwhelmed."
Regions Without Coverage
In Gippsland, an area exceeding 41,000 square kilometres, outreach is absent, while in Wimmera, one worker manages a caseload of approximately 50 people across five local government areas.
Local organisations in Gippsland have resorted to informal coalitions to support rough sleepers along the Snowy River, but lack funding for sustainable outreach or housing pathways.
Di Natale emphasised the instability created by reliance on council reserves and philanthropy, noting, "We have essential, life-saving services being run on goodwill and fundraising, while other communities have nothing at all."
There are no dedicated outreach programmes for young people sleeping rough alone, posing an additional challenge as they are often less visible and harder to engage.
CHP calls for the Victorian Government to urgently expand outreach services and increase social housing, asserting that at least 177 full-time workers are needed to meet demand.
"Outreach without housing is only half a solution," Di Natale said. "We need more social housing, with dedicated places for people sleeping rough, so that when workers make contact, they can offer a real pathway off the streets."
In addition to the lack of resources, the analysis highlights that many services operate with minimal staffing. This situation is evident in the Wimmera region, where a single outreach worker covers an expansive area, increasing the burden on the limited staff.
CHP notes that meeting the current demand for outreach services across Victoria would require significantly expanded access to social housing. Without sufficient housing options, outreach efforts cannot provide long-term solutions to homelessness.
The lack of a dedicated system for young people experiencing homelessness is particularly concerning. These individuals are often left without support, exacerbating their vulnerability and making it harder for them to escape the cycle of homelessness.
Last updated: 4 May 2026, 10:04 am
