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Thursday, 14 April, 2022
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The battle is on for La Trobe
Good Friday close to home
Second Stephenson for Smith
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SPORT
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Councils’ election pitch
SE housing crisis By Shelby Brooks and Cam Lucadou-Wells
Wayss new chief executive Wayne Merritt. Picture: SUPPLIED
experiencing homelessness. Mr Merritt praised the State Government’s recent $5.3 billion Big Housing Build announcement. In what is touted Australia’s largest-ever investment in social and affordable housing, it will supply 12,000 new homes and 10,000 jobs a year over the next four years. Cardinia Shire Council’s research into the nature and extent of homelessness, risk of homelessness and financial vulnerability in Cardinia Shire (September 2017) revealed homelessness is a hidden and significant issue in Cardinia Shire. “ABS Census 2016 data showed that around 1,300 Cardinia Shire households (4 per cent of all households) have an unmet need for afford-
able housing and more than 4,600 households across our community are living in ‘housing stress’,” Cardinia Shire Council’s manager community and family services Stephen Sparrow said. “This means they are spending more than a third of their income on housing costs and they can’t always meet other costs of living such as transport, bills, food, education, and medical expenses. “The council’s research also indicated homelessness disproportionately impacts women, single people, sole parent families, younger and older residents, people with mental illness and people with a disability.” Mr Sparrow said those affected often face other obstacles as well, which keep them stuck
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in insecure housing; obstacles such as unemployment, poor physical or mental health, drug, alcohol or gambling addiction, family and relationship breakdown, and family violence or abuse. “The private market is not delivering housing options for everyone; there is a lack of smaller dwellings for rent or purchase by single and couple households, and appropriate housing for people with special needs,” he said. “The council works with several services that provide housing assistance. The council is also working collaboratively with registered housing agencies, housing industry, other tiers of government, and the community to address the urgent need for increased social housing and a more effective, integrated, and supported homelessness service system.” The council is also advocating to the Victorian Government for an increase in investment in social and affordable housing in the growth areas and to mandate social and affordable housing for all future residential development.
JASON WOOD MP FEDERAL MEMBER FOR LA TROBE 03 9768 9164 JasonWood.Updates Authorised by J.Wood, Liberal Party of Australia, 3/16 Langmore Ln, Berwick VIC 3806.
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A homeless person who used the War Memorial site in Cranbourne as a temporary shelter was referred to a City of Casey partner organisation for support last week. Picture: MARCUS UHE
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Rentals are increasingly out-of-reach for many in what is a “housing crisis” in the South East, according to the region’s leading housing and homelessness service provider. Wayss chief executive Wayne Merritt says house prices and rentals are on the “fastest growth trajectory on record” across the region and the whole of Victoria. “This puts even rental properties in our region out of reach for so many people, especially those on low incomes and those who are dependent on government benefits. “People end up staying in short term crisis accommodation and other sub-standard living environments because there is simply no other option.” The looming challenge for Wayss is in the post-pandemic - to find ongoing private rentals for those families. In the South East, the average weekly rent of a one-bedroom apartment costs at least threequarters of a JobSeeker recipient’s meagre income. Nearly nine out of 10 clients supported by Wayss are on government benefits. They are being squeezed out by “fierce competition” in the rental market, Mr Merritt says. Anecdotally, an average of 30 people were applying for every affordable property in the South East. Some applicants were offering several months’ rent in advance, he said. “We’re seeing huge numbers attending all rental inspections and fierce competition from people who are earning a wage.” There was also “huge rental stress” among tenants who do have roofs over their heads. “Here at Wayss we have seen more people than ever before seeking assistance to pay their rent, including people who would not normally access our services.” Wayss is calling for more government-funded social housing and an “appropriately-resourced” early-intervention model for people