On 9 September 2026, the Victorian Government announced a new plan to strengthen the state's response to rough sleeping. The idea at its heart is simple: instead of waiting for people sleeping rough to find their way to a service, outreach workers go to them, get to know them and help them into housing and support. This article explains what's in the plan, why researchers think it's worth trying, and where you can get help right now.
What's in the plan
According to the Premier's announcement, the $24.8 million plan includes:
- assertive outreach workers expanded to every area of the state, including ten new outreach services backed by $27.8 million
- Housing First tenancy support for an extra 1,000 people at risk of homelessness
- coordinated "by-name lists" and an online triage system, so services know who needs help and can direct resources to them
- complex care coordinators to lead support across agencies and reduce waiting times
- youth homelessness support in Melbourne and regional Victoria
The ten new outreach services will be in Brimbank, Shepparton, Hume, Whitehorse, Latrobe, Darebin, Bairnsdale, Maribyrnong, Wodonga and the Mornington Peninsula. For people in Melbourne's west and north, Brimbank, Maribyrnong and Hume are close to home.
What is assertive outreach?
Many people who have slept rough for a long time have had difficult experiences with services, or find it hard to attend appointments, fill in forms and wait. Assertive outreach turns that around. Workers visit people where they are, build trust over time, and help with whatever comes first, whether that's health care, ID documents or a housing application. Our earlier article on rough sleeping and how outreach helps explains the approach in more detail.
Why researchers are hopeful
Writing in The Conversation, Professor Cameron Parsell from the University of Queensland gives several reasons the plan is worth trying. Sleeping rough takes a heavy toll on people's health and safety, so reaching people sooner matters. Research shows outreach works well when it's linked to housing. Stable housing with support is also generally a better use of public money than the repeated emergency, health and justice responses that long-term homelessness can involve. And the plan focuses on helping people into homes rather than moving them on from public places.
He also makes an important point: outreach only works when there's somewhere for people to go. The plan's success will depend on housing being available when outreach workers meet someone who is ready to move in.
If you or someone you know is sleeping rough
You don't need to wait for an outreach worker to find you. Help is available now:
- Somewhere to stay tonight: call Victoria's statewide homelessness line on 1800 825 955, available 24 hours a day
- If you're in danger: call 000
- If you're worried about someone: you can call the homelessness line on their behalf and ask what support is available in their area
Our guide to emergency housing in Australia has more on where to start.
How Nhanya Foundation can help
Nhanya Foundation isn't part of the government's outreach program, and we don't run crisis accommodation. What we can do is help people take the next steps towards stable housing. Our accommodation support helps people understand their housing options, prepare applications, deal with tenancy matters and plan a safer move. For young people aged 12 to 25, our Assertive Outreach & Stabilisation Program offers relationship-based support to build safety, routine and connection to the right services. And our housing and homelessness resources list other services that can help.
Need help with housing? For somewhere to stay tonight call 1800 825 955, or talk to Nhanya Foundation on 03 8595 9012 about accommodation support.