Homelessness Week in the Macedon Ranges

Last updated on 18 July 2025

Council is partnering with Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health on a community event in August marking Homelessness Week 2025, to raise awareness of the issue and local supports available.

The event will be held on Tuesday 5 August at the Kyneton Mechanics Institute, with doors opening at 10:30am and the event commencing at 11am, followed by a networking and service expo at 11:45am including a morning tea, where you can meet local services and find out what support is available in the Macedon Ranges.

Mayor Dom Bonanno noted that in some of the latest available data, being the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ March 2023 Estimating Homelessness report, homelessness in the Macedon Ranges had increased by 31.4% between the 2016 and 2021 Census.

“Homelessness is a complex issue that touches more lives than many people realise. Events like this bring our community together, help reduce stigma, and connect people with the services and information they need,” he said.

“By working together and raising awareness, we can take meaningful steps towards ending homelessness in the Macedon Ranges.”

Mayor Bonanno also reiterated that amid the Victorian Government’s recent housing targets, an essential aspect of meeting the future housing needs of the Macedon Ranges was to ensure the availability of local, affordable housing.

“A minimum $30 million investment has been allocated to the Macedon Ranges through the Victorian Government’s Big Housing Build; however, to date, only $12.5 million has been allocated to our region,” he said.

“We have requested confirmation from the Victorian Government as to the availability of the remaining $17.5 million and how it will be allocated, and we welcome future partnership opportunities to provide more local affordable housing.”

Homelessness Week is a national campaign that encourages community support and government action to end homelessness. It’s also a time to learn more about how the issue affects people in our own region.

The event is free and open to everyone. No registration is needed - just come along.

To learn more about this event and local housing support services, visit Council's Homelessness Week event page.