A $45 million state government initiative targeting Victorians sleeping rough has been hailed a “critical turning point” in the ongoing battle to combat the chronic issue of homelessness.

The Andrews government on Saturday announced a raft of measures aimed at intervening early in the cycle of homelessness, particularly in high-need regional centres including Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong.

A homeless couple after they were evicted from their makeshift camp in Melbourne in June 2016. Credit:Pat Scala

Council to Homeless Persons CEO Jenny Smith described the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Plan as world class and said it was a "light at the end of the tunnel".

“These announcements are a critical turning point in homeless policy in Victoria. The services that are being announced are undoubtedly best practice internationally and they will begin to turn off the tap of homelessness.