Question without Notice: Hotel accommodation program
Dr RATNAM : My question is for the minister representing the Minister for Housing. The hotel accommodation program has been really important in keeping people safe and healthy during the COVID pandemic. It provided secure housing for people experiencing homelessness during Melbourne’s lockdowns and helped connect people with support services and
community at the heart of the pandemic. But the program has been winding up over the summer, and people have been moved out of their hotel accommodation. While the government indicated that families would be supported to find permanent homes, it is unclear how many singles and couples have been provided with secure housing after the hotel program. Minister, can you provide details of how many people have been offered long-term housing upon exiting the program and what type of housing they were offered?
Ms STITT: I thank Dr Ratnam for her question. I will certainly seek a response from the Minister for
Housing, who I know is very passionate about making sure that out of this pandemic people have
access to stable and ongoing accommodation.
Dr RATNAM: Thank you, Minister, for following that up. That is much appreciated. As a follow-up, given Victoria’s housing crisis and the 100 000 people waiting for a public home, it seems impossible that there would be enough housing for everyone exiting the program. Can you confirm that no person has left the hotel accommodation program and returned to
homelessness?
Ms STITT: Again that is something I will refer to the minister for a detailed response in accordance with
the standing orders.