Melton City Council has welcomed the announcement of a $152 million Victorian State Government funding package to give women and children escaping family violence greater access to a range of crisis and emergency housing options.
Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing Martin Foley announced the funding in response to the Royal Commission into Family Violence recommendations that called for the Government to immediately increase crisis accommodation options, help victims to remain at home and redevelop family violence refuges.
Melton City Council has a long-standing commitment to working in partnership with key stakeholders to address the drivers of violence against women and their children and to provide frontline services which support community members impacted by family violence.
Hope Street Youth and Family Services, one of this state’s oldest specialist youth homelessness service, is one such key stakeholder.
Councillor Kathy Majdlik, Mayor of the City of Melton said that the funding announcement meant that Hope Street Youth and Family Services would now have the necessary increased funds to support young people in the City of Melton.
“Council participates in a range of community-based activities and discussions that increase awareness of family violence locally.
“This collaborative approach gives women and children escaping violence more access to a range of housing options. It gives hard-working local agencies, like Hope Street Youth and Family Services, the support they need to deliver timely facilities and supporting services to some of the most vulnerable members of our community.”
Hope Street Youth and Family Services is working towards establishing an emergency accommodation facility for young people in crisis. Council has endorsed support for the project with a parcel of land at a yet to be determined site.
