Rough Sleeping support
Launch Housing’s assertive outreach services provide support to people sleeping rough in the local council areas of Melbourne, Yarra, Port Phillip, Stonnington, Frankston and Dandenong.
The Assertive Outreach programs connect people sleeping rough to crisis accommodation, housing and healthcare services, with a focus on rapid, short term responses. Referrals can also be made to specialist services including mental health and drug and alcohol support.
These services are offered in partnership with local councils and specialist health providers.
To refer someone to the Rough Sleepers Initiative in the Cities of Melbourne, Yarra, Port Phillip, Stonnington, Frankston or Dandenong contact your local council or call (03) 8598 1170.
In other areas, you can find out who the local housing access point is by calling Opening Doors on 1800 825 555 (free call, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Your call will be answered by a worker who can put you in touch with the organisation closest to you.
Importantly, if the person requires emergency medical attention please call an ambulance.
Our long history and focus on supporting people sleeping rough means we implement new evidence-based approaches to deliver the best possible outcomes for the people we work with. As part of this, we continue to expand evidence-based, internationally recognised Advance to Zero programs across Victoria.
Advance to Zero is a highly localised, person-centred, integrated approach to ending chronic homelessness. It focuses on knowing exactly who is sleeping rough in a local area by name, knowing what they need to access long-term housing, and coordinating with local councils and services to support the person to access and maintain housing. This work is enabled by a shared By-Name List for each local area. Assertive Outreach services operate within the Advance to Zero framework.
Launch Housing supports Advance to Zero programs in 8 local government areas across Melbourne – Port Phillip, Melbourne, Stonnington, Yarra, Dandenong, Merri-bek, Frankston and Mornington Peninsula.
