Funding boost for Vic homeless services

Amid growing concern from Melbourne's CBD traders about burgeoning numbers of homeless people, the government has announced a funding boost for crisis accommodation.

The government on Wednesday said it will inject $10 million into the redevelopment of VincentCare's Ozanam House to expand crisis accommodation bed numbers and to construct independent living units.

The centre will go from 64 beds to 130 apartments and expand services available to Melbourne's homeless, including meals, showers, education and medical services, VincentCare CEO John Blewonski told reporters on Wednesday.

The new centre aims to be operational by 2018.