Melbourne City Council plans to spend more than $576 million on services that will tackle population-driven issues including youth homelessness.

The city released its draft budget for 2018/19 on Tuesday, proposing benefits to a number of services, initiatives and projects.

A total of $1.8 million will go towards homelessness support, an issue that currently affects two in five young people in Victoria.

This includes $480,000 for Front Yard, a support service for young people at risk of homelessness.

The Salvation Army’s Night Time Safe Space for rough sleepers in the CBD will receive $438,000.

A further $341,000 will be allocated to grants for Youth Street Teams, rooming house project, legal project, women’s homelessness project, and weekend meals program.

According to the Council to Homeless Persons, over 6,000 Victorians under the age of 24 are homeless, making up over 40 percent of people experiencing homelessness.

Thousands of people will camp at the MCG on Thursday night for Sleep at the G, an annual event that aims to stamp out youth homelessness.

The event raises funds for Melbourne City Mission, Victoria’s largest youth homelessness service.

This year, Sleep at the G aims to raise $800,000 to go towards building a 24/7 youth crisis accommodation centre in King Street.

The centre will provide emergency accommodation and housing, health, education and employment support.

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