By Olivia Condous
Pregnant women experiencing homelessness or insecure housing will receive extra support from the state government through safe accommodation plus maternity and parenting services.
The government will contribute a total of $16.1 million to support the Cornelia Program, a joint initiative of the Royal Women’s Hospital, Housing First and Launch Housing, which will go towards the redevelopment of apartments available for vulnerable pregnant women and homelessness support services.
Victorian mothers, like those in Hume and Whittlesea, will also have access to health and psychosocial programs, specialist maternity health services and support to find long-term stable housing through the Cornelia Program.
The program will provide assistance to up to 50 women and their babies each year with access to accommodation for up to a year in 36 purpose-built apartments.
Victorian health minister Martin Foley said the program ensured vulnerable women facing homelessness had access to the support and services needed during and after pregnancy.
“By keeping these mothers and their babies together in a secure location, we’re providing them with the opportunity to care and stay with their child in the safety and comfort of secure housing.”
