The roundtable aimed to support collaboration between key stakeholders and identify practical actions that can support a stronger response to homelessness in our region. 

Key themes from the recent session include:

• the importance of strong partnerships, collaboration and shared responsibility to prevent and respond to homelessness  
• strong support for practical initiatives that improve coordination between services including participation in Geelong Zero and the use of the Advance to Zero methodology
• recognition that housing is a human right and that responses to homelessness should be grounded in dignity, inclusion, respect and the voices of people with lived experience
• the need for tailored support for housing and mental and physical health 
• the value of learning from other local government areas where council-backed, community-owned commitment frameworks have ensured consistent responses with human rights top of mind.

Participants identified key actions, such as:

• develop a Statement of Commitment that identifies shared principles, responsibilities and a common vision for responding to homelessness in Greater Geelong
• create a shared action plan that outlines collective priorities across leadership, service coordination and advocacy
• implement service coordination activities that improve information sharing, data collection and collaboration between organisations. 
• coordinate joint advocacy toward state and federal governments for funding, housing packages and system-level changes across corrections and social services.

Greater Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM 

Participants were once again passionate and thoughtful during discussions.

With more than 1,500 people experiencing homelessness on any given night in the City of Greater Geelong, this is an issue that demands our immediate attention.

Our second roundtable represents an important next step in finding solutions, moving to action and doing things in new ways.

No single organisation can solve homelessness alone - we need a multi-agency approach and clearly lay out the steps we can take together to end this challenging issue.

Councillor Emma Sinclair

We had representatives from a number of organisations, including state government departments, genU, Give Where You Live Foundation, The Outpost, The Salvation Army, Neami National, Meli, Victoria Police and Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative.

A big thanks to everyone who came along, but particularly to those who have a lived experience of homelessness and were able to share deeply personal insights.

This group is committed to tearing down those silos and strengthening coordination and building momentum for collective action.

Give Where You Live Foundation CEO Zac Lewis 

The foundation is committed to advancing housing justice and addressing the root causes of homelessness in our region.

Through our Home Truths research and the Social Innovation Lab, we are moving beyond conversations to testing practical, community-led solutions informed by lived experience. 

The roundtable was an important opportunity to strengthen collective action, because lasting change requires more than individual organisations working in isolation. 

We need shared commitment, collaboration and a willingness to do things differently if we are serious about ending homelessness in our region.

Gordan Saravanja, Acting Manager Housing and Homelessness, Meli 

Ending homelessness requires a shared community response. 

Meli welcomes the City of Greater Geelong’s leadership in bringing organisations together to strengthen collaboration, improve outcomes and drive lasting change for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Launch Housing’s Head of Systems Change & Advocacy George Hatvani 

Launch Housing was pleased to be invited to participate in the second Greater Geelong Homelessness Roundtable. 

We shared our experiences of bringing the Advance to Zero framework to metropolitan Melbourne and were inspired by the passion and enthusiasm of the people we met on the day. 

Launch Housing supports Advance to Zero because we know that ending homelessness is possible and strategies like these help agencies to work together to end homelessness, one person at a time. 

We strongly commend the leadership of the City of Greater Geelong and Neami National for their renewed commitment to ending homelessness in the region and look forward to helping in any way we can.