Victoria's homeless services close doors due to overcapacity

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 13 Oct, 21:32 · Archive

Homeless service entry points across Victoria are regularly closing their doors due to overcapacity, turning away those in need. A survey by the Victorian Homelessness Network involving nearly all of Victoria's entry point services found that 69 per cent were forced to close their doors at some point during two fortnightly survey periods. The most common reason for reaching capacity was insufficient staffing.

Entry points like Wayss Dandenong in Melbourne's southeast serve as the first point of contact for people facing homelessness, where they are assessed and allocated services such as temporary housing and financial support. Wayss is frequently forced to close its doors as early as 10am, with support needs ranging between 50 and 80 people a day.

When people are turned away, it fuels frustration and critical incidents. Frontline support worker Julz Nichols told AAP that witnessing critical incidents and responding to the level of demand impacts staff wellbeing and retention, which further adds to the pressure on services. Workers face aggression, threats and violence. Staff have also reported that the complexity of issues facing those seeking help has increased, including language barriers, mental health issues and financial difficulties.

Ms Nichols said better education about what entry points can actually offer would help alleviate tension. She noted that entry points have no housing attached to their programmes and no say or influence on public housing allocation.

How it is being reported

• Homeless services forced to shut doors on those in needThose seeking homelessness services in one state are increasingly facing closed doors and making frontline staff the target of their frustrations.The West Australian · 13 Oct, 21:02
• Homeless services forced to shut doors on those in needThose seeking homelessness services in one state are increasingly facing closed doors and making frontline staff the target of their frustrations.Perth Now · 13 Oct, 21:02

In this story: Victoria · Wayss Dandenong · Victorian Homelessness Network · Julz Nichols

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