THE Victorian government have announced a $2.1m funding package dedicated towards homelessness outreach services on the peninsula.
Mornington Peninsula Shire and local housing advocates have welcomed the announcement and said it is an important step towards addressing the homelessness crisis on the peninsula.
Victorian Minister for Housing and Building Nick Staikos and Hastings MP Paul Mercurio announced the funding will go towards a dedicated assertive outreach team of two workers for four years.
The announcement comes as homelessness continues to rise on the peninsula. At the end of May, there were around 168 people sleeping rough across the region, a 32 percent increase over the past six months.
Mayor Cr Stephen Batty said the funding was a welcome development, but more work is needed to address the underlying causes of homelessness.
“The announcement is encouraging, but it must be the beginning rather than the end,” said Batty.
“We need sustained investment in social and affordable housing, crisis accommodation and support services if we are to genuinely tackle homelessness across the Peninsula.”
Batty emphasised affordable and social housing hasn’t kept up with demand, despite the peninsula having one of the highest rates of homelessness in Victoria.
“There is more work to do, but this is real progress. We thank the Victorian government for coming to the table and working towards solutions for our community,” said Batty.
Southern Women’s Action Network, who consistently advocate for housing justice, said they enthusiastically welcome the funding announcement.
Judith Couacaud-Graley, chair of the sub-group Women for Housing Justice, said SWAN have been working for over two years to advocate for funding for assertive outreach workers.
“We are very pleased that Minister Staikos in our meetings with him genuinely heard our concerns and our specific needs for outreach workers in an area that has the highest number of rough sleepers in Victoria,” said Couacaud-Graley.
“Finally, much needed dollars will be coming our way and we are very grateful.
“It’s an important first step in the Mornington Peninsula getting its fair share of funding to assist us to tackle the dire local housing and homelessness crisis.”
Member for Hastings, Paul Mercurio, told The News, “This is an amazing announcement for not just my electorate of Hastings but the whole of the peninsula and goes to show Labor is working hard for people in our community that are in dire need and those organisations that are at the coal face assisting those vulnerable people”.
Assertive outreach teams work directly with people experiencing homelessness and help them access housing, health care and support services, and assist with building relationships that can lead to pathways out of homelessness.
The funding announcement comes alongside the launch of the shire’s “Shout Out for the Peninsula” advocacy campaign in the lead up to the upcoming state election.
Increased investment in homelessness support services and affordable and social housing remains one of the shire’s key priorities.
First published in the Mornington News – 28 July 2026
