Housing Minister Candy Broad has launched several programs to be managed by Geelong's Bethany Community Support.

Among them was the establishment of plant bank in conjunction with the Geelong Botanic Gardens.

The bank has evolved from a Glenelg Community Park project with local public housing tenants

suggesting each new resident receive a free plant to encourage pride and an interest in gardening around their new homes.

Geelong Botanic Gardens, with the support of curator John Arnott, now provides plants free for distribution to new tenants.

Ms Broad also announced the establishment of the Housing Support for Indigenous Tenants initiative that has grown from the Victorian Homelessness Strategy to an ongoing statewide model. 

The program provides a targeted Aboriginal-specific response to help tenants at risk of homelessness under the umbrella of the Office of Housing and Aboriginal Housing Board of Victoria.

Ms Broad also launched the Bethany Community Support Social Housing Advocacy and Support Program (SHASP).

The program replaced the Public Housing Advocacy Program in January and provides greater resources and support to public housing tenants in need of support and assistance to manage and sustain their tenancies.

SHASP has a focus on the provision of more specific and practical help to address tenancies at risk.