Need Help Now

If you are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Victoria, call 1800 825 955 (24/7 free call) for immediate crisis support and assessment. Options include emergency accommodation, transitional housing, and long-term social housing options managed by community organisations and Homes Victoria.

Youth Homelessness housing options in Victoria include immediate crisis refuges (6-8 weeks), transitional housing (up to 2 years), and specialist programs like Youth Foyers and studio builds. Services are accessed through statewide hotlines (1800 825 955) and local agencies, providing tailored support for young individuals, families, and those escaping family violence.

What information will you be asked about yourself and your situation?

When contacting a Homelessness Access Point by phone, you may find that they do not always pick up your call. Always leave a detailed message with your name, your contact number, and state that you need urgent help because you have nowhere else to go. This will assist the Access Point to prioritise their calls and get back to you. You are also able to go to the office/street address of the Access Point. It is always best to do this early in the morning. The Access Points are very busy with many people, so you may need to wait for a while. The Access Points will have tea, coffee and water and points to charge your phone and/ or laptop.

When you speak or see a worker at the Access Point, they will ask you many questions to determine your needs at that current time. It is important for you to know that you only need to share what you feel comfortable to share, and at the same time, it will assist the Access Point to have as much information as they can to support the next steps for you. The Access Point will talk to you about obtaining your consent and who you are ok for them to talk to. This consent is important for them to make any referrals into accommodation and/ or support. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. Depending on your situation, they may organise another appointment, face-to-face or by phone to do an assessment, called an Initial Assessment and Planning (IAP). This will be to ask you a lot more questions and will be used to make referrals into accommodation options. This meeting will go for about an hour.

After you leave or get off the phone with the Access Point, it is important to keep checking in with them by calling a leaving messages if you cannot speak directly to a worker. This will show that you are still requiring assistance and will give you an opportunity to update them with anything that has changed for you.

It is important to remember that if your safety is at imminent risk, please always contact emergency services on 000.

Specialist Support 

Homelessness specialist support refers to targeted assistance for young people who are homeless or at risk of losing their housing. This is delivered by funded homelessness organisations. it provides holistic, wraparound care to help young people secure stable, permanent housing and improve their overall health and wellbeing. Some options for specialist support are below:- 

• Aboriginal Housing: Culturally safe housing options available, detailed on Homes Victoria. 

• Women’s Services: Support for women and children experiencing family violence or housing crisis. 

• Rooming Houses: Shared houses, sometimes managed by community housing providers. 

• Supported Accommodation: Higher-level care for people with specific needs, such as disability or mental health issues. 

• Movable Units: Independent units set up on a relative’s or friend’s property. 

• Outreach Support: : Case Management short or long-term support via agencies like Hope Street. 

Key Contact Information 

When contacting a Homelessness Access Point by phone, you may find that they do not always pick up your call. Always leave a detailed message with your name, your contact number, and state that you need urgent help because you have nowhere else to go. This will assist the Access Point to prioritise their calls and get back to you. You are also able to go to the office/street address of the  Access Point. It is always best to do this early in the morning. The Access Points are very busy with many people, so you may need to wait for a while. The Access Points will have tea, coffee and water and points to charge your phone and/ or laptop.  

When you speak or see a worker at the Access Point, they will ask you many questions to determine your needs at that current time. It is important for you to know that you only need to share what you feel comfortable to share, and at the same time, it will assist the Access Point to have as much information as they can to support the next steps for you. The Access Point will talk to you about obtaining your consent and who you are ok for them to talk to. This consent is important for them to make any referrals into accommodation and/ or support. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. Depending on your situation, they may organise another appointment, face-to-face or by phone to do an assessment, called an Initial Assessment and Planning (IAP). This will be to ask you a lot more questions and will be used to make referrals into accommodation options. This meeting will go for about an hour. 

After you leave or get off the phone with the Access Point, it is important to keep  checking in with them by calling a leaving messages if you cannot speak directly to a worker. This will show that you are still requiring assistance and give you an opportunity to update them with anything that has changed for you.  

It is important to remember that if your safety is at imminent risk, please always contact emergency services on 000. 

• Statewide After Hours Service: 1800 825 955 

• Safe Steps: 1800 015 188 (Statewide) 

• Haven Home Safe                 

Phone:  
Bendigo – (03) 5444 9000 
Preston – (03) 9479 0700 
Geelong – (03) 5246 8900 
Mildura – (03) 5018 4200 

• Launch Housing (North and West Metro, Southern Metro, Eastern Metro Melbourne) 

Phone: 1800 048 325 / (03) 9288 9611 

• Melbourne Youth Support Service/ Frontyard (Statewide) 
• Phone: (03) 9977 0078 

• Salvation Army Social Housing and Support Network (Brimbank and Melton LGA’s 
• Phone: (03) 9312 5424Unison (North and West Metro Melbourne, Barwon

• Unison (North and West Metro Melbourne, Barwon 

Phone: (03) 9689 2777 

• VincentCare Victoria – Northern Community Hub (Merribek LGA) 
• Phone: (03) 9304 0100