Boost for housing & homeless support across macedon

The Andrews Labor Government has committed an extra $1.2 million to the Private Rental Assistance Program (PRAP) in the Loddon and Mallee areas, to help more people experiencing family violence and homelessness access the private rental market.

PRAP is part of the State Government’s $152 million housing package announced in response to the 2016 Royal Commission into Family Violence. A $16 million year-long trial of PRAP placed women and children, couples and families in more than 500 households in the private rental market and this success prompted the State Government to inject an extra $33.2 million into the program over two years. Seventeen government agencies across the state have been funded to deliver PRAP.

Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas visited Cobaw Community Health in Kyneton – a homelessness access point in the Macedon Ranges Shire. Support agencies like Cobaw can now continue to support and refer at risk households and the homeless who will benefit from PRAP to Haven Home Safe; the agency delivering PRAP in both the Loddon and Mallee Areas.

Ms Thomas said "I’m proud to be part of a Government that is providing a record investment to support more homeless people and families who are in crisis across the state, into the private rental market and to sustain those who are already in it."

Earlier this month the Labor Government announced that Haven Home Safe was one of eight organisations to receive funding under the Government’s Accommodation for the Homeless Phase 2 initiative. Haven was allocated $5.49 million over three years to buy 15 properties in rural and regional areas. The properties will house women and children escaping family violence, young people and those experiencing chronic homelessness. Haven Home Safe has been providing services to the homeless and disadvantaged for more than two decades, assisting thousands of people each year who are in housing crisis. The Private Rental Assistance Program is one of a number of Government programs which involves collaboration across various community service organisations, the not-for profit and private sectors as part of a long term vision to increase social housing and reduce homelessness.