Homelessness agencies demand 60,000 new social homes

HOMELESSNESS services and agencies operating as part of the Victorian Homelessness Network last week gathered on Spring Street to call on the Victorian government to commit to building an extra 60,000 social homes over the next 10 years.

The event, held ahead of Homelessness Week (August 5 to August 11), saw the steps of Parliament House adorned with 6,000 origami houses, intended to represent 10 per cent of the social homes needed across the state to meet existing demand.

In the Barwon South West region, the number of people approaching local agencies for support due to homelessness continues to rise, with more than 5,600 receiving support for homelessness in the 2021-2022 financial year.

Presently, there are almost 7,000 households listed on the Victorian Housing Register’s priority list who have selected a “broadband” within the Barwon region.

In Greater Geelong, there are 5,240 households, within the Surf Coast Shire there are 802 and in Queenscliff there are 138.

Param Thind, the Barwon Local Area Services Network chair, said Victoria’s homelessness crisis was “unacceptable”.

“Local homelessness agencies are calling for urgent solutions.”

Rebecca Callahan, the co-ordinator for the Barwon & South West Homelessness Network said there needed to be a commitment to build a pipeline of public and community housing beyond the Big Housing Build for 60,000 Victorian households.

Council to Homeless Persons chief executive officer Deborah Di Natale said 30,000 Victorians were experiencing homelessness every night.

“It means that, if you’re lucky, you’ve got a friend that will put you on a couch or give you a bed or bedroom for a couple of nights or a week. If you’re less lucky, you’re a mum with kids and you’re living in your car. You might be living in an unsafe rooming house, or you might actually be sleeping in a public space.

“We need to work together to ensure that we can end homelessness in Victoria.”

She said employment was no longer a protective barrier to homelessness, with more employed people than ever before seeking the support of homelessness services.

“It’s gone up 14 per cent. That means that there are 12,000 Victorians in employment who are really at the cusp of being able to keep a roof over their heads.”

The representatives of the state’s homelessness agencies were joined on the steps of Parliament by 60 parliamentarians, including Minister for Housing Harriet Shing, who thanked the state’s housing and homelessness services for their tireless work, stamina and determination in advocating for better outcomes.

“Homelessness is not just about providing a roof over somebody’s head – that’s a start, but it’s also about providing dignity and safety, connection and opportunity,” Ms Shing said.

“This is an opportunity for us to commit, ahead of Homelessness Week, to ongoing improvement, to strengthen our resolve to making sure that housing is provided in a way that is modern and fit-for-purpose, that is accessible and that is close to the things that we hold dear as members of our communities.”