Support Services for People Experiencing Homelessness

With the ultimate goal of being able to help individuals in need, it's important to understand the support available to those experiencing homelessness. Here are some of the main ways that individuals can find help:

Homelessness Access Points

A formally recognised and designated entry point for people to access resources provided by the homelessness service system. These are physical places where an assessment is completed by an intake assessment worker and then, depending on their needs, people are connected to crisis accommodation and services.

Often, this is where people are connected with case managers—professionals who help people navigate through their situation, connecting them to housing, employment, health services, and other support.

Finding Access Points

Juno provides a list of Homelessness Access Points in each suburb in Victoria. Other states have similar services—check your local government or homelessness service websites.

Ask Izzy

Ask Izzy is an online resource where people can find available services for a range of different needs, including:

Meals and food support
Housing and accommodation
Counselling and mental health support
Family violence support
Legal assistance
Health services
And more

It is free and anonymous and lists thousands of support services across Australia. People can search by location and need, finding services available near them right now.

Assertive Outreach Programmes

Some organisations run outreaches, where trained workers go out on the street and talk with people who are rough sleeping and possibly connect them to support services or case managers.

This is mostly targeted towards those experiencing primary homelessness (rough sleeping). Keep in mind that outreaches look different with different organisations—some focus on immediate needs like food and blankets, others on building relationships and eventually connecting people to housing support.

What Might Prevent Someone from Accessing These Services?

Just because services are available does not always mean that people can access them. There are a number of factors that may prevent people from receiving the help they need:

An Overburdened System

In 2021-2022, over 270,000 people were supported by homelessness services, however an additional 105,000 were unable to get support when they sought it.

This problem is most prominent in crisis accommodation, with around 1 in 3 people seeking housing assistance turned away daily due to demand outweighing available housing and support.

Mental Barriers

To seek help is to admit that one is experiencing homelessness or is struggling, and the stigma surrounding homelessness can often lead to a reluctance to reach out.

People may feel that their situation is not as bad as others' and thus do not deserve support, which may hinder their ability to get back on their feet. Indeed, people may not even know that their experience counts as homelessness, particularly those experiencing secondary or tertiary homelessness, and thus are in the dark about services and help available to them.

Negative Past Experiences

Occasionally, people may have negative experiences with case managers or support services, or have heard about negative experiences, which discourage them from reaching out again, even if their situation becomes worse.

It is important that every interaction that people have with such services is positive, so that they are more likely to both seek help when they need it, and recommend services to others.

Practical Barriers

Other barriers include:

Lack of awareness about available services
No access to phone or internet to contact services
Transport difficulties in reaching service locations
Service eligibility criteria that exclude some people
Language barriers for non-English speakers
Services only operating during business hours when people are working

Why Understanding This Matters

As volunteers and community members, knowing both what services exist and what prevents people from accessing them helps us:

Connect people to the right support at the right time
Understand why someone might be hesitant to seek help
Advocate for increased service capacity and funding
Recognise the limits of what services can currently provide

Support exists, but it's not always adequate or accessible. That's why community connection and advocacy remain crucial.

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Last Updated: January 2026