Businessman Murray Foster and engineer Ross Proud are pooling their talents with BDC Global Group CEO Matthew Fidler and general manager Dean Lanyon to develop low-cost housing.

"I was approached by Ross 18 months ago to bring his vision to fruition," Mr Foster said.

"Ross has been developing a model to tackle homelessness for the best part of 40 years."

A recent forum on Ballarat's homelessness provided Mr Foster and Mr Proud with the opportunity to raise their ideas. Moves in Ballarat have come at a time of the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute revealing concerning research.

The AHURI reported large numbers of those renting households, between 1.5 and 2 million Australians aged 15 and above, are perhaps only one unexpected development away from homelessness.

According to the research, Victoria is one of three states with the greatest number of people at risk of homelessness, along with NSW and Queensland.

Mr Foster believes he and his colleagues have much to offer Ballarat and beyond.

"Ross' vision is to develop a model that can be implemented in any area," Mr Foster said.

"The model might consist of between four and six houses built out of a pre-fabricated structure on a smaller-than-average lot size."

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The group has thought beyond the mere physical structures.

"We have begun discussions with a number of banks," Mr Foster said.

"The owner of the dwelling will need to participate, if they can, in the construction process.

"They will earn deposit credits to go towards the purchase of the property which the banks will then recognise."

Ideally, those partaking in the initiative will develop personally.

"The model allows the owner to begin their life again, to integrate back into society," Mr Foster said.

The entrepreneurs are primed to execute their dream.

"We have already developed the material and the panels for the pre-fabricated dwellings," Mr Foster said.

"We would hope to be in a position to begin this time next year.

"We are currently speaking with a number of local government areas."

Mr Foster is quick to point out governments do not need to fret about funding.

"Initially, we will not be seeking any financial support from a local or state government," Mr Foster said.

"The development will be privately-funded."

However, the creative body urges councils to be open-minded.

"The greatest challenge we have is working with a local government area to overcome its fears," Mr Foster said.

Like Messrs Foster, Proud, Fidler and Lanyon, Swinburne University's Dr Deborah Batterham, who helped undertake the recent research for AHURI, is intent on developing solutions to the homelessness problem as well, focusing on proactive measures.

"We can't reduce homelessness by solely responding to people when they present to homelessness services," Dr Batterham said.

"Instead, we have to turn off the tap upstream, as it were, by delivering preventative interventions that are tailored for specific areas.

"Understanding the population at risk of homelessness is critical in designing and implementing such interventions."

There are certain risk factors when it comes to the prospect of homelessness, according to Dr Batterham, and these should help inform preventative measures.

"A person is at risk if they live in rental housing and are experiencing at least two of the following: low-income; vulnerable to discrimination; low social resources and supports; needing support to access or maintain a living situation due to chronic ill health, disability, mental illness or problematic use of drugs; and are in a tight housing market,' she said.

The AHURI report identified typical traits of Australians at risk. Such people are more likely to be female; indigenous; living in a lone-person or lone-parent household; identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual; and report fair or poor health. They have lower levels of educational attainment; are more likely to report difficulty paying bills and rent on time; and are more likely to experience a range of indicators of material deprivation such as skipping meals and being unable to heat their home.

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