Ozanam House to play key role in city’s homelessness support boost

Ozanam House in North Melbourne will play a central role in the City of Melbourne’s expanded frontline response to homelessness, as the council prepares to deliver what it says is the biggest suite of dedicated homelessness services in its history.

As part of its 2026-27 budget, the council will invest $2.3 million to double the number of specialist frontline workers on city streets and strengthen support for people sleeping rough.

Two new programs will be delivered through partnerships with specialist homelessness providers: the Melbourne Outreach Team, run by Launch Housing and Ngwala Willumbong, and a new Safe Space Program led by VincentCare at Ozanam House.

The Safe Space Program will provide a welcoming and inclusive environment where people can rest safely, access support and be connected with housing, health and wellbeing services.

For North Melbourne, the role of Ozanam House gives the citywide initiative a strong local focus. The VincentCare facility has long been an important part of Melbourne’s homelessness service network, providing accommodation and support for people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.

Under the new program, Ozanam House will become a key place where vulnerable people can access practical help, from food and health support to housing assistance and pathways into longer-term services.

Lord Mayor Nick Reece said the investment was about making Melbourne “safer and kinder” by transforming the way the city responded to challenges on its streets.

“The City of Melbourne is delivering the biggest boost Melbourne has ever seen to on-street outreach for people sleeping rough and expanding safe space services for vulnerable people,” Cr Reece said.

The new Melbourne Outreach Team will help people sleeping rough connect directly to crisis accommodation, supported housing and essential homelessness services.

It will double the number of specialist frontline workers operating in the city, extend hours of service and introduce a new Complex Case Manager to support people requiring trauma-informed, longer-term care.

Community and City Services portfolio head Cr Gladys Liu said the investment would mean more people could access help, dignity and care.

“We’re taking an unprecedented step to back our most vulnerable community members by partnering with VincentCare and Launch Housing to ensure those who need it most get support,” Cr Liu said.

Launch Housing CEO Sherri Bruinhout said outreach workers were essential to meeting people where they were, often during crisis, and connecting them with pathways to safe housing.

St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria Group CEO Charlie Spendlove said the Safe Space Program at Ozanam House reflected “exactly what we know works”.

“Too many people sleeping rough have nowhere safe to simply exist with dignity while they work toward more permanent solutions,” Mr Spendlove said.

Ngwala Willumbong CEO De-Joel Upkett welcomed the council’s investment in supporting Aboriginal community members experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping.

The new services will operate alongside the Make Room transitional housing project and the council’s Community Safety Officer program, which is also set to double from 11 to 22 officers.