Residents across the Goulburn and Ovens Murray regions are encouraged to don a hoodie this week to help address the worsening homelessness crisis.

With Homelessness Week running from Monday, August 3 to Sunday, August 9, Beyond Housing is rallying around local schools, workplaces and sporting clubs to raise funds and awareness for homelessness support through the Hoodies for Housing fundraiser.

Each year, the not-for-profit’s services help thousands of people through homelessness and housing insecurity, providing them with a pathway to a home.

The fundraiser will involve people wearing a hoodie to work or school on Tuesday, August 4 – or any day during the week – and bringing a gold coin or $5 donation.

All proceeds raised across the region will make a difference to the lives of others, helping provide housing aid for locals.

Shepparton Access chief executive Brigid Herring-Neumann and Saputo Dairy site manager Adam Harwood both said they were eager to be involved in the fundraiser.

“As an organisation that supports adults living with disabilities, we love nothing better than seeing our participants along with staff actively engaged in the community and making a positive difference in the lives of others,” Ms Herring-Neumann said.

“We’re passionate about our community. Homelessness is a growing challenge, so we’re proud to support an initiative that helps make a real difference,” Mr Harwood said.

In the lead-up to Homelessness Week, Beyond Housing released data showing that women and older people in north-east Victoria were most severely impacted by the cost-of-living and housing crisis.

In 2025-26, 60 per cent of individuals using the organisation’s services were women, a six per cent increase on the previous financial year, with more than 1200 reporting family violence as their reason for presenting.

In addition, 18 per cent of people that used Beyond Housing’s services were aged over 55, up from 15 per cent in 2024-25 and 12 per cent in 2023-24.

Beyond Housing chief executive Celia Adams said these numbers were alarming but not surprising.

“When there isn’t enough affordable housing, it’s those who are already vulnerable who often suffer the most,” Ms Adams said.

“It means people who are living on a retirement allowance, who are working low-income jobs or who are looking to escape family violence often have limited options.”

The median price for a one-bedroom rental across Shepparton, Wangaratta and Wodonga is about $400 a week.

That cost accounts for approximately half the average after-tax income of a full-time hospitality or retail worker, and more than 70 per cent of what a single person receives on a standard pension.

Housing stress is considered when people are spending more than 30 per cent of their gross income on housing costs.

But Ms Adams said the issue was much deeper than the cost of renting.

“The lack of housing supply means people aren’t just struggling to find private rentals they can afford but are struggling to find anything at all,” she said.

“Over the past 12 months, we have supported more than 400 people who were sleeping rough, and many more who were staying in caravan parks, or couch surfing.”

Anyone at risk of becoming homeless or who is seeking housing assistance is encouraged to speak to their local homelessness entry point on 1800 825 955, or contact their nearest Beyond Housing office via beyondhousing.org.au/contact/contact-us

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Sunday, 16th July 2028

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