Community sector agencies and community groups across Victoria are seeking to fold 60,000 origami houses to highlight the scale of Victoria’s homelessness crisis.
The 60,000 houses represent the number of households on the Victorian Housing Register waiting for public or community housing now.
The Victorian Homelessness Network (VHN) and allied community groups are folding 60,000 origami houses across Victoria, up to and during Homelessness Week (August 4-10, 2025), to highlight the scale of Victoria’s housing crisis.
The VHN Houses at Parliament Campaign calls for State and Federal Governments to invest in constructing at least 60,000 social homes in Victoria and to implement a National Plan to end homelessness.
In Gippsland origami house folding sessions and displays have taken place in schools, workplaces and even a shopping centre to raise awareness of the 3644 households at risk or experiencing homelessness that have presented to Gippsland Homelessness Entry Points in 2024/25.
In March 2025 there were 7520 households with priority access on the Victorian Housing Register broadband waiting for social housing in Gippsland, 1259 for East Gippsland Shire.
In 2024/25 there were 572 households that disclosed to Gippsland Homelessness Entry Points that they were sleeping rough in tents, in cars and in the open, this is an increase of 32 per cent from 2023/24.
Gippsland Homelessness Network spokesperson, Chris McNamara, said the community had no idea of the true number of people sleeping rough because many don’t present to homelessness services having done so in the past and fully aware that there are not the resources available to assist them.
Sometimes the only response is to provide a sleeping bag. Unlike some other regions in Victoria, Gippsland is not funded for Assertive Outreach to support people sleeping rough where they are living.
Ms McNamara says community support shows Victorians are demanding that the State and Federal Governments step up to end homelessness.
“Homelessness is avoidable,” Ms McNamara said.
“With enough public and community homes and the right support, everyone in the community can be permanently housed. Victoria’s homelessness crisis is unacceptable, and local homelessness agencies are calling for urgent solutions. Ending homelessness requires a focus on increasing affordable and social housing and ensuring sufficient income and support.
“We are calling for action now. Everybody has a right to a safe home to live in – it’s a human right. Nobody should be homelessness. Housing ends homelessness.”
The Gippsland Network of Homelessness services is holding a Homelessness Week event at the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre, Traralgon this Friday at 11am where guests will hear from business person, documentary maker and community advocate, Jessika Mylne, Richard Riordan, Shadow Minister for Housing and Planning, and Mitchell Burney, co-chair of the Gippsland Homelessness Network.
Origami houses will be displayed along with a video display of photos and writing about What Home Means to Young People Experiencing Homelessness. All welcome.
