The number of working Victorians seeking homelessness help has surged to a record high, according to new data.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s 2023-24 Specialist Homelessness Services Annual Report was released on Wednesday, showing 13,715 employed Victorians sought homelessness assistance this financial year, a 23 per cent jump on five years ago.
The report also found women aged between 20 and 39 were the main demographic seeking support and more than half of all women, young people, and children who visited specialist homelessness services were experiencing family and domestic violence.
The highest concentration of homelessness services visits were from women aged between 30 and 34 (7013) and boys between 0 and 9 (7189).
Rough sleeping in Victoria jumped 21 per cent over the past five years, with a six per cent annual increase.
However, one positive in the report was the finding that 91 per cent of people who sought support while at risk of homelessness, maintained housing.
Council to Homeless Persons chief executive Deborah Di Natale said the results showed solutions to the housing crisis were desperately needed.
“This sharp surge in the number of working Victorians forced to seek homelessness help shows the state desperately needs more ambition in tackling the housing crisis.
“Having a job is no longer protection against homelessness, which is an alarming reality that we can only fix by investing in more public and community housing,” she said.
“This societal failure to provide the basic human right of housing must be addressed.”
