Tackling the ever-prevalent issue of homelessness is among the latest projects receiving support from the City of Melbourne, Victoria.
Authorities have devised a three-year plan involving key organisations such as the Salvation Army, Youth Projects, Front Yard and Melbourne City Mission to help homeless people escape the daunting cycle of life on the streets.
Tagged ‘Pathways: Homelessness Strategy 2014-17’, the plan involves working closely with community members and service providers to help secure affordable, long-term housing options for those in need.
The strategy is an extension of innovative services already introduced over the past few years. These have included the establishment of a health service for homeless people at Drill Hall in the city, and the provision of 161 apartments to house some of those in need.
The aim of the project, according to Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, was to identify and strengthen ways of getting out of the situation of homelessness.
He said current figures indicated people sleeping rough on any given night in city streets had reached 140.
The Lord Mayor commended kind-spirited gestures such as donations of food and supplies, but said long-term results would lie in focusing on creating sustainable pathways for the homeless to follow to better their situations.
It is hoped that services such as flyer printing may initiate some community support, with anyone wishing to assist asked to directly contact service providers.
