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The State Government has announced it will provide $8.8 million in funding to re-purpose four Victorian aged care homes to house homeless people who need to shelter or recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
The locations in inner Melbourne will be run by Anglicare Victoria, Brotherhood of St Laurence, Launch Housing, Sacred Heart Mission and VincentCare Victoria and are expected to accommodate up to 200 rough sleepers in the next six months.
Eligible homeless people will need to have been tested for COVID-19 and be awaiting results, or tested positive, or need to self-isolate to stay at the homes.
Other homeless people who have been discharged from hospital and need a place to recover will also be eligible.
People experiencing homelessness are deemed to be at “greater risk” of contracting the illness because they can’t self-isolate or quarantine.
