Many people may recall the Shelter-Victorian Council of Social Services (VCOSS) projects undertaken over the last few years - the Housing Consultation and Advocacy Project (HCAP), and the Housing Advocacy Peak Project (HAPP) - that sought to establish Housing Alliance Victoria (HAV), an advocacy-focussed Victorian housing peak. The Government funding being sought for HAV was not forthcoming, so VCOSS funded a short project extension to consolidate the key needs identified during HCAP and HAPP into a single-worker housing project, based at VCOSS.

A stakeholder consultation workshop held in mid-May - to allow for feedback on and discussion of the new proposal - unexpectedly became a significant turning point when the diverse group of participants reached an almost unanimous agreement on the most fundamental need, and offered support for the development of a new proposal: an advocacy campaign focussed on placing the broader housing affordability issue into public consciousness and on the political agenda.

This new project, the Housing Advocacy Alliance (HAA), will be based at VCOSS and work closely with key community sector organisations. Strategies will include building public awareness, providing a voice for consumers, and advocating for policy change to address the affordable housing shortage. This work will be informed and resourced by consumer consultation, engagement with housing workers and housing organisations, comprehensive data collection, and building on the substantial evidence base and policy solutions developed over the past several years.

A steering group - comprising Michael Horn (Melbourne Citymission), Stephen Nash (HomeGround Services), Heather Holst (Loddon Mallee Accommodation Network), and Peter Gunn and Mark Wilkinson-Hayes (Western Homeless & Housing Network) - has been formed to guide the project, which commenced in mid-June. This initial stage, funded by HomeGround Services, Melbourne Citymission, the Rural Housing Network and the Brotherhood of St Laurence, will see the model developed and refined, and seek support and funding from community sector organisations and peaks to implement HAA for an initial twelve months. $20,000 has already been committed by a number of organisations.

If you would like more information about this exciting project, be involved in some way, or offer support or funding, please contact Dean Lombard at VCOSS.

Website: HAP on the VCOSS website
Contact Name: Dean Lombard
Contact Phone: (03) 9654 5050
Contact Email: dean.lombard@vcoss.org.au