Council's Protocol for Homeless People, Sleeping Rough Report

Council's Homelessness Protocol

City of Greater Dandenong Homelessness Protocol is to guide the efforts of the Council's staff to engage and support people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The protocol advises the Council Officer not to ask a person sleeping rough to move on from a public space unless the person is blocking an entry or exit of a dwelling.

City of Greater Dandenong Homelessness Protocol 


Customer Service received a report about a person sleeping rough or considered to be homeless

Definition of sleeping rough & being homeless

  • temporary or insecure housing such as in rooming houses, crisis accommodation or in cars, or people living in severely overcrowded dwellings or couch surfing, or on our streets (rough sleeping), squatting in residential/commercial properties.

CSO:

  • Initiate a referral to the Community Safety Team see below for the process

How to Initiate a referral to the Community Safety Team

CSO:

To initiate a referral to the Community Safety Team, please email communitysafety@cgd.vic.gov.au with the following information:

  • The name and contact details of the person submitting the report
  • The exact location of the individual sleeping rough

What happens when a referral is initiated?

The Community Safety Team will send an outreach referral to Launch Housing through our partnership with them. They will reach out within 24-48 hours to help identify a pathway of services to assist the individual sleeping rough.

Related information on our website

How to enter a report if the person is blocking an entry or exit doorway

Council protocols prevent staff from asking someone to move unless they obstruct an entry or exit.

Only report if this is happening, but also initiate a referral to the Community Safety Team so we can assist the individual sleeping rough. Refer to the process above for details.

Counter and Phone

Complete a Merit 

  •    Gathering in Public Place > Homeless/Sleeping Rough

Ask and record in the description of Merit:

  • What is the exact location?
  • What is the issue with the person sleeping rough?
  • What doorway is the person blocking?

Snap Send Solve

Report received via email (Outlook) in the SSS correspondence inbox

1. Go to Merit and access allocation Intray. A shell should have already been created.

2. Check the reference provided form the email to identify the correct shell report

3. Complete a Merit 
   Gathering in Public Place > Homeless/Sleeping Rough

Ask and record in the description of Merit:

  • What is the exact location?
  • What is the issue with the person sleeping rough?
  • What doorway is the person blocking?

4. Delete email from (Outlook) SSS correspondence inbox 

Objective Email/Correspondence

Report received via email in Objective 

1. Go to Obective and access the folder.

2. Complete a Merit 
   Gathering in Public Place > Homeless/Sleeping Rough

Ask and record in the description of Merit:

  • What is the exact location?
  • What is the issue with the person sleeping rough?
  • What doorway is the person blocking?

4. Catalogue report number to related Objective Correspondence as per normal process  

After Hours

Not Applicable

How to enter a report homeless person camping in Council's park/reserves?

If the complaint relates to a suspected homeless person camping in Council owned parks or reserves

Counter and Phone

Complete a Merit 

  •    Camping > Council Land/Reserve

Ask and record in the description of Merit:

  • What is the exact location?
  • What is the issue with the person sleeping rough?
  • How long have they been there?

Counci's Local Law Officer will visit the site to assist within a few days.

Snap Send Solve

Report received via email (Outlook) in the SSS correspondence inbox

1. Go to Merit and access allocation Intray. A shell should have already been created.

2. Check the reference provided form the email to identify the correct shell report

3. Complete Merit

  • Camping > Council Land/Reserve

Ask and record in the description of Merit:

  • What is the exact location?
  • What is the issue with the person sleeping rough?
  • How long have they been there?

The council's Local Law Officer will visit the site to assist within a few days.

4. Delete email from (Outlook) SSS correspondence inbox 

Objective Email/Correspondence

Report received via email in Objective 

1. Go to Obective and access the folder.

3. Complete Merit

  • Camping > Council Land/Reserve

Ask and record in the description of Merit:

  • What is the exact location?
  • What is the issue with the person sleeping rough?
  • How long have they been there?

The council's Local Law Officer will visit the site to assist within a few days.

4. Catalogue report number to related Objective Correspondence as per normal process