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 (click each one to learn more):
Download the Homelessness & Affordable Housing Overview Brochure »
Does your organisation's work align with the outcomes of this Impact Area?
Learn about our Grants Program and speak to Erin Dolan, Program Manager - Homeless & Affordable Housing.
Learn more about the issues affecting our community
Our Greater Melbourne Vital Signs Report provides a snapshot of the health, wellbeing and vitality of Greater Melbourne. The report identifies positive aspects of our community, as well as the issues we face, and informs the Foundation's strategy.
Recent Grants
Seed Innovation Grants
| Monash University | Unequivocal Women’s Housing: Quality affordable housing and landscaping for women at risk of homelessness.
This project addresses the need for user-focused feedback to provide a framework for future, affordable, fit-for-purpose housing types for women. The project will analyse a series of case studies of existing housing types; refuge, boarding house, tiny house, apartment, townhouse and family home, provided for women experiencing or at risk of homelessness. | $33,631 |
| RMIT University | Enhancing support services for people with disability and complex needs in permanent supportive housing.
This project will build an evidence base regarding the support needs of people with lived experience of homelessness and disability (including psychosocial) living in permanent supportive housing in the City of Melbourne. Using a case study methodology this project will develop key principles and strategies for a Disability Support and Systems Framework for this population. | $46,333 |
| Western Community Legal Centre Limited (WEstjustice) | International Students Accommodation Legal Service - Regulation of Unsafe Housing.
WEstjustice will research how many international students reside in situations of precarious or unsafe tenure and how many 'rooming houses' exist in small CBD and inner suburban properties unsuitable for such use. This will help to improve oversight and enforcement under the Residential Tenancies and Public Health and Wellbeing Acts for inappropriate rooming house spaces and encourage students to report rogue landlords. | $48,000 |
Scaling-up Innovation Grants
| Jesuit Social Services | Restore.
Jesuit Social Services is piloting a therapeutic intervention program, RESTORE, at the Melbourne Children’s Court which applies Restorative Practice principles and offers a Family Group Conference process for civil cases involving young people who are using family violence in the home. | $300,000 |
| MacKillop Family Services | Safe relationships: working with young men who use violence.
MacKillop will pilot an early intervention program with 50 young males (aged 12-17 years) and their families who have or show signs of potential violence or sexual violence in the family/home or dating contexts or have been exposed to family violence. | $244,967 |
| McAuley Community Services for Women | Top of Shops Project Worker.
Engagement of a Project Worker for two years dedicated to exploring and facilitating new accommodation opportunities for women who are or at risk of homelessness due to family violence and mental health. | $100,000 |