Having a home is essential to a person’s wellbeing, but across Greater Dandenong we have the highest number of people experiencing homelessness in Victoria.
Recent figures show more than 2300 are experiencing homelessness, this includes people sleeping rough, couch surfing and living in boarding houses or overcrowded properties.
Homelessness Week 2026 (3–9 August) is an opportunity to raise awareness of the impacts of homelessness and the solutions needed to end it.
Greater Dandenong Mayor, Cr Sophie Tan said Council was working with partner agencies and other levels of government to advocate for real change.
“We want to reduce homelessness, increase the supply of social and affordable housing, and support residents to live with dignity and stability,” Mayor Tan said.
“Not having a place to call home is a deeply distressing and isolating experience. It cuts people off from their community and can lead to terrible physical and mental health outcomes. “
Rising living costs and limited affordable housing contribute to disadvantage in our community, including our rates of homelessness and poverty.
“Right now, one in five people in our community live below the poverty line. Through ongoing advocacy efforts we want to tackle key issues including food insecurity, homelessness, financial hardship and social exclusion. Poverty is everyone’s business,” Mayor Tan said.
Since 2020 Council has invested over $1.7 million to help alleviate poverty, and we are calling on all levels of government to invest in place-based initiatives to tackle these issues.
During Homelessness Week we will host an event with the South East Housing and Homelessness Alliance (SEHHA), inviting MPs, councillors from Cardinia and Casey, as well as local support organisations to discuss the key issues.
SEHHA is a collective of agencies working collaboratively to address homelessness in the south east region. SEHHA's members are three local councils (Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia) and seven community organisations who provide coordinated support and advocacy for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Visit the SEHHA website for more information.
