Homelessness & Affordable Housing

Supporting people into well-located, sustainable, good quality, safe and affordable housing in a sustainable city.
Homelessness & Affordable Housing grants in 2022/2023 financial year:
Total: $3.448 million
Homelessness & Affordable Housing grants in 2022/2023 financial year:
Total: $3.448 million

About

Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation has a longstanding commitment to alleviating homelessness.

We are working on the systemic causes of homelessness to prevent it.

We are also focused on ending enduring, entrenched homelessness.

The Foundation recognises that the lack of affordable housing is one of the primary causes of homelessness. As such we are working to increase the supply of quality affordable housing.

The Foundation is working towards achieving the following Outcomes:

  1. Homelessness or entrenchment of homelessness is prevented

  2. The supply of affordable, sustainable and healthy housing is increased

  3. Increased energy efficient and climate resilient homes for vulnerable households

Click on each of the Outcomes below for further information.

The Homelessness & Affordable Housing Impact Area aligns with these United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals:

5. Gender Equality 7. Affordable and clean energy 11. Sustainable Cities and Communities 13. Climate Action

Learn more

Outcomes

1. Homelessness or entrenchment of homelessness is prevented

Homelessness in Melbourne is increasing.  

The Foundation understands the complex range of issues that can lead someone to become homeless, including family violence, unexpected economic challenges, mental health issues, drug and alcohol and lack of affordable housing options, among others.

We work to better understand the core, underlying issues that drive homelessness and, most importantly, to put these findings into best practice interventions.  

We support early interventions, working systemically to prevent entry and entrenchment in homelessness. 
 
The Foundation’s support is focused on:

  • Organisations and interventions that utilise Housing First principles.
  • Research to better understand what interventions work.
  • Collaboration between sectors, to reduce drivers of homelessness.
 

2. The supply of affordable, sustainable and healthy housing is increased

Melbourne’s housing market is one of the most unaffordable in the world, yet a home is central to better health and happiness. 

The Foundation works to increase the number of very low and low income households living in affordable housing and to reduce housing affordability stress. 

We support the development of quality affordable housing, which is sustainable, well-designed, and built in locations that have access to transport, amenities, schools and employment - increasing the life opportunities of residents.  
 
The Foundation’s support is focused on:

  • Strategic and creative responses to increasing affordable housing, including demonstrating innovative financial models.
  • Affordable housing developments that are innovative and can be used as prototypes.
  • Community awareness to increase public support for affordable housing developments.

3. Increased energy efficient and climate resilient homes for vulnerable households

Our community is vulnerable to the changing climate and also a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. Victoria’s per capita greenhouse gas emissions are among the highest in the world - approximately four times the global average.

While most temperature-related deaths in Australia can be attributed to cold weather, heat-related impacts on health are increasing; causing more deaths than all other natural disasters combined.

People most at risk of these temperature-related effects, such as low-income households, are also under pressure from rising energy costs. In all our Impact Areas, the Foundation has a particular commitment to supporting the most disadvantaged people in our community.

The Foundation aims to increase the energy efficiency and climate resilience of vulnerable households to reduce the cost of living, reduce emissions and provide protection from temperature related health impacts.

The Foundation’s support is focused on:

  • Initiatives that directly increase the energy efficiency and climate resilience of vulnerable households, such as subsidy or retrofit programs, including where they potentially intersect with our interest in increasing the supply of affordable housing.
  • Activities that demonstrably influence relevant local, state and commonwealth policies, regulations and codes.
  • Research to better understand energy poverty, temperature-related risks, residential greenhouse gas emissions and measures to reduce them.

Homelessness in Melbourne is increasing.  

The Foundation understands the complex range of issues that can lead someone to become homeless, including family violence, unexpected economic challenges, mental health issues, drug and alcohol and lack of affordable housing options, among others.

We work to better understand the core, underlying issues that drive homelessness and, most importantly, to put these findings into best practice interventions.  

We support early interventions, working systemically to prevent entry and entrenchment in homelessness. 
 
The Foundation’s support is focused on:

  • Organisations and interventions that utilise Housing First principles.
  • Research to better understand what interventions work.
  • Collaboration between sectors, to reduce drivers of homelessness.
 

Melbourne’s housing market is one of the most unaffordable in the world, yet a home is central to better health and happiness. 

The Foundation works to increase the number of very low and low income households living in affordable housing and to reduce housing affordability stress. 

We support the development of quality affordable housing, which is sustainable, well-designed, and built in locations that have access to transport, amenities, schools and employment - increasing the life opportunities of residents.  
 
The Foundation’s support is focused on:

  • Strategic and creative responses to increasing affordable housing, including demonstrating innovative financial models.
  • Affordable housing developments that are innovative and can be used as prototypes.
  • Community awareness to increase public support for affordable housing developments.

Our community is vulnerable to the changing climate and also a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. Victoria’s per capita greenhouse gas emissions are among the highest in the world - approximately four times the global average.

While most temperature-related deaths in Australia can be attributed to cold weather, heat-related impacts on health are increasing; causing more deaths than all other natural disasters combined.

People most at risk of these temperature-related effects, such as low-income households, are also under pressure from rising energy costs. In all our Impact Areas, the Foundation has a particular commitment to supporting the most disadvantaged people in our community.

The Foundation aims to increase the energy efficiency and climate resilience of vulnerable households to reduce the cost of living, reduce emissions and provide protection from temperature related health impacts.

The Foundation’s support is focused on:

  • Initiatives that directly increase the energy efficiency and climate resilience of vulnerable households, such as subsidy or retrofit programs, including where they potentially intersect with our interest in increasing the supply of affordable housing.
  • Activities that demonstrably influence relevant local, state and commonwealth policies, regulations and codes.
  • Research to better understand energy poverty, temperature-related risks, residential greenhouse gas emissions and measures to reduce them.


Recent grants

Explore all grants
Patterson Road, Bentleigh
Housing Choices Australia Limited
Status
Active grant
Initiative
Affordable housing challenge
Grant Amount
$500,000
Grant Type
Initiative
Year
2022/2023
 
2. The supply of affordable, sustainable and healthy housing is increased.


Sustainable development goals
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
Youth Housing Initiative
Melbourne City Mission
Status
Active grant
Initiative
Affordable housing challenge
Grant Amount
$500,000
Grant Type
Initiative
Year
2022/2023
 
2. The supply of affordable, sustainable and healthy housing is increased.


Sustainable development goals
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
Greening community housing
Community Housing Industry Association Limited
Status
Active grant
Grant Amount
$80,000
Grant Type
Proactive
Year
2022/2023
 
3. Increased energy efficient and climate resilient homes for vulnerable households.


Sustainable development goals
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities 13. Climate Action
Affordable housing for vulnerable young people
Lighthouse Foundation
Status
Active grant
Initiative
Affordable housing challenge
Grant Amount
$50,000
Grant Type
Initiative
Year
2022/2023
 
2. The supply of affordable, sustainable and healthy housing is increased.


Sustainable development goals
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
Closing the Gap: Multi-site, Medium-Density Social Housing for Aboriginal Victorians in Melbourne's Great Suburbs
Aboriginal Housing Victoria Limited
Status
Active grant
Initiative
Affordable housing challenge
Grant Amount
$50,000
Grant Type
Initiative
Year
2022/2023
 
2. The supply of affordable, sustainable and healthy housing is increased.


Sustainable development goals
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities

Collaborate with us

Does your organisation's work align with the Homelessness & Affordable Housing Impact Area? Speak to:
Erin Dolan
Senior Program Manager - Homelessness & Affordable Housing