Homes First Program

Homes First provides support to people sleeping rough and experiencing persistent homelessness. Support is flexible and tailored, for a duration of three-years, and aims to provide pathways into long-term housing.

Homes First supports individuals and households with complex support needs who are currently homeless and have experienced rough sleeping/primary homelessness over an extended timeframe.

Referrals and allocations occur once a year, July 2026 is the last funded intake and there are 13 packages of support available.

The allocation of packages will be through a panel process. Panel members will consist of the Homes First provider, Homes Vic representative, DFFH Housing First Coordinators and senior representatives from referring agencies (maximum one per agency).

Developed by Homelessness Australia, Homes First Program adopts the Housing First Principles:

• People have a right to a home
• Housing and support are separated
• Flexible support for a 3-year timeframe
• Choice and self determination
• Active engagement without coercion
• Recovery-orientated practice
• Social and community inclusion
• Harm-reduction approach

The Labor Government is investing $48 million to help 500 households over the next three years access to long-term housing and support.

Sacred Heart Mission, along with four other support providers have been selected to deliver the program in eight areas across the state where there is a need more support services for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of sleeping rough.