THE Minister for Homelessness, Nick Staikos MP, visited Southern Peninsula Community Support in Rosebud on Thursday (29 October) to make twin announcements on the Mornington Peninsula’s homelessness crisis.
Staikos announced the tender had been awarded as part the $2.1m funding package dedicated towards homelessness outreach services on the peninsula announced in July (“Homelessness funding announcement for outreach services”, The News, 28/7/26).
The tender, awarded to Better Health Network, will fund workers going out to people sleeping rough, building trust and connecting them with support, rather than leaving it up to people with few resources to find their way to support.
“Our homelessness response spans the full continuum – from outreach and crisis accommodation to supportive housing and social homes,” said Staikos.
“This plan finds new ways to maximise our investment and tackle this confronting, increasingly visible issue.”
The Minister also announced that the Labor government has acquired land on the Mornington Peninsula to build 20 beds for supported accommodation.
“This project is being made possible through the funds collected by the short stay levy,” said Staikos.
Staikos said the announcement was not an election promise that will only be enacted if Labor is reelected, but is “real money that has been allocated now and will help to meet the demand for supported accommodation on the peninsula”.
Kerri Macdonald, the Labor candidate for Mornington, told The News, “This is great news and its real funding with land secured and contracts signed – it’s not an empty promise”.
“Disappointingly, the Opposition are committed to scrapping the Short Stay Levy cutting off the source of dedicated funding to help address homelessness on the Mornington Peninsula and provide the support for people in need.”
The mayor, Cr Stephen Batty, congratulated Staikos on his announcement saying that he was impressed with the contribution that the Minister has made to the Mornington Peninsula.
Ben Smith, CEO of Mornington Community Support Centre, told The News, “The Mornington Community Support Centre are thrilled with this announcement”.
“It will add certainty, and provides a sense of hope for the agencies that are doing the heavy lifting on the ground.
“The efforts of our years of combined advocacy are now delivering outcomes, and the credit goes to our passionate supporters and advocates.
First published in the Mornington News – 3 November 2026
