Greater Dandenong Council wants to shift the narrative about what drives homelessness

What is the main reason Greater Dandenong Council joined SEHHA? 

The Alliance offers a unique space for councils to work collectively with homelessness and housing sector organisations. SEHHA enables collaboration across local government boundaries and alongside frontline services, recognising that homelessness does not align neatly with municipal borders and requires shared, coordinated responses. SEHHA's robust governance structure also drives the group towards its goals, with clear outcomes and measures of success that keep members accountable and focused on tangible results.

What specific issue or challenge do you hope SEHHA can address?

A specific challenge SEHHA can help address is shifting the narrative around homelessness and housing instability. There is still a lot of misunderstanding and stigma in the community about who experiences homelessness and why, which can undermine support for the solutions needed. SEHHA provides a platform to increase awareness, share accurate information, and build a shared understanding across councils, services, and the broader community of the realities of homelessness and housing instability in the South East.

What are you hoping SEHHA can achieve in the next 6–12 months? What does a "win" look like?

A key win would be a stronger collective voice to Parliament — one that reflects both local system pressures and the lived experiences of people experiencing homelessness. But success isn't only about advocacy outcomes. SEHHA members are also working together on the ground: sharing resources, coordinating referrals, and reducing duplication so that people experiencing homelessness in the south-east receive more connected, responsive support. A win looks like both better policy and better outcomes for real people in our community.