Submission to Victorian Inquiry into Homelessness

Access to adequate, safe, affordable housing is a fundamental right that forms the basis for achieving individual and community wellbeing, which are central tenets of psychology.

Homelessness denies people the right to shelter and safety, disrupts the connections they have with their family and communities, and is also associated with a sense of not ‘belonging’, not being valued and being excluded from social and community life. The sense of marginalisation and alienation from mainstream society that inevitably arises from homelessness also has profound effects upon the physical and mental health of those experiencing such homelessness.

Overall, the APS recommends that the Victorian Government addresses the lack of safe and secure housing for people with, or at risk, of mental illness by:

1. Increasing the availability of suitable, safe, emergency accommodation, social housing and secure affordable housing
2. Expanding and building upon existing programs (e.g. Private Rental Access and Tenancy Plus) to support people experiencing mental illness to sustain private rental accommodation
3. Better resourcing to educate housing providers to work with and understand the impact of trauma, identify the early warning signs of mental illness, and take early and appropriate action
4. Financially contributing to a roll out of the Housing First initiative including rapid access to permanent supportive housing. For some, ongoing psychological support is an integral component to assist people to obtain and keep housing.

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