The State Government must rectify the massive undersupply of social housing in the upcoming State Budget if it is to stop rising homelessness in Victoria.
Despite a rapidly growing population (up 11% in just 5 years), Victoria now has less units of social housing than it did in 2014. This means the proportion of social housing has significantly declined to just 3.2 per cent of all housing stock, (down from 3.6 per cent in 2010-11).
While Victoria’s population has boomed, our social housing has bottomed out to just 3.2%.
Without investment from the #Vicbudget, our State’s #homelessness crisis will only get worse. #SpringSt #affordablehousing https://t.co/h1ZRue5BJO pic.twitter.com/BNFrKy6qQ1
— CHPVic (@CHPVic) March 5, 2019
Victoria now spends less on social housing per head of population than any other state, with just $83 spent per head, less than half the national average.
The ongoing lack of investment in affordable housing, alongside the rental affordability crisis, has resulted in the current dire situation for Victorians without homes, and on low-incomes.
“Neglecting social housing while the population booms is a very effective formula for
increasing homelessness. People on low incomes continue to flood homeless services, and the best we can do is add their name to the growing social housing waiting list and tell them to be patient”
Soaring rental costs across all sections of the market have left 142,000 low-income households struggling to pay their rent. 82,500 people sit on the social housing waiting list and last year, one in four people who sought homelessness help, (almost 32,700 people), were turned away from homeless services without the assistance they needed because of a lack of housing and resources.
Council to Homeless Persons has used its Pre-Budget Submission to call for 3,000 new public and community-owned homes to be built each year to meet the states growing needs.
Victoria spends less on social housing p/person than any other state — $82.94 p/person (or less than 1/2 the national average), despite having 20% of the homeless population. It’s urgent that we make a change in the upcoming #Vicbudget. #SpringSt https://t.co/FfhNfseuc7 pic.twitter.com/HVwxiK1YU3
— CHPVic (@CHPVic) March 5, 2019
‘Neglecting social housing while the population booms is a very effective formula for
increasing homelessness. People on low incomes continue to flood homeless services, and the best we can do is add their name to the growing social housing waiting list and tell them to be patient,’ said CHP CEO, Jenny Smith
CHP is also asking for
- Continued funding for the Private Rental Assistance Program
- A comprehensive approach to outreach into rooming houses
- An expanded fund for housing and support for young people experiencing
homelessness - More emergency resources for flexible funding of accommodation