Homelessness on the rise

THE rising cost of living has seen an increase of people experiencing homelessness in Golden Plains Shire.

Adam Liversage, senior manager of homelessness at Uniting, said that although the focus is often on larger cities, people in rural areas also need assistance.

“Throughout the Central Highlands region, we are seeing a massive increase of rough sleepers, so the Golden Plains catchment area is no exception to that,” he said.

“We are currently working, supporting and providing outreach to quite a number of rough sleepers within Golden Plains.

“They are in a number of areas such as free campgrounds and local bush areas.”

Current cost of living pressures is meaning people are being pushed out of the rental market.

“We’re starting to see an increase across our homelessness program, especially those who have been squeezed out of the rental market,” said Mr Liversage.

“Ballarat has a very low vacancy rate, and the affordability rate is sitting at just under one per cent.

“When people are squeezed out, they can’t afford to get back into the rental market.”

Mr Liversage’s team of outreach workers helped more than 230 people experiencing homelessness in the last year.

“Our team here will go out, complete assessments, look at the immediate needs of the rough sleepers,” he said.

“We also do housing applications; we look at possible crisis accommodation options.”

Uniting is advocating for more funding and resources to help people experiencing homelessness in the region.

“We’re always advocating for extra resources right across our homelessness program,” said Mr Liversage.

“We have made calls for extra staffing within the outreach team because we know Central Highlands is quite a large area.

“We also advocate for more social and affordable housing right across the country because we need more housing.”