Wednesday, 5 March 2025

Ministers statements: Pride in Place

Vicki WARD (Eltham – Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Natural Disaster Recovery, Minister for Equality) (14:32): Like all Victorians, our LGBTIQA+ communities deserve to live a safe, healthy and meaningful life where their human rights are respected. Through experiences of social isolation, discrimination and stigma when accessing services, LGBTIQA+ Victorians face significantly higher rates of homelessness compared to the general population. We are committed to addressing this and continue to create inclusive and supportive communities and services for all Victorians. This includes the work with Pride in Place, which is co-led by VincentCare Victoria and Drummond Street Services in partnership with Uniting and Family Access Network. The Pride in Place program currently operates in Hume, Merri-bek, inner western metro, outer eastern metro and Central Highlands and offers a holistic and comprehensive approach for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The services include initial assessments, peer navigators with lived experience, flexible case management and supported accommodation. This provides clients with individualised support to assist their transition from crisis to recovery. Pride in Place has been a resounding success. Since its launch in August 2022 to now, Pride in Place has provided over 900 service responses to LGBTIQA+ Victorians experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and it will support over 300 people in 2024–25. Pride in Place has also assisted over 60 services across Victoria to deliver safe and inclusive responses to LGBTIQA+ clients, along with a training toolkit to equip agencies with the knowledge and skills that they need. This government will continue to stand alongside our diverse rainbow communities, ensuring that they are always respected and always supported as they deserve, and we will always show up.