More affordable housing needed as homelessness levels continue to rise

A lack of affordable housing options is a key factor behind a record number of homeless people being counted in the annual StreetCount 2014.

By GRACE KELLY

The peak body representing organisations dedicated to tackling homelessness has called for increased action in the lead up to the state election, after a survey by Melbourne City Council returned record results.

The council’s annual StreetCount survey counted 142 people sleeping rough in June, up from 124 at the same time in 2013.

Council to Homeless Persons (CHP) policy manager, Sarah Toohey said a “critical” lack of affordable and social housing in Victoria was contributing to the increasing numbers of people experiencing homelessness.

A list complied by the CHP after the 2011 census showed 71 of the 88 Victorian electorates had seen a growth in homelessness since 2006, with an average rise of 36 per cent.

Melbourne ranked second on the list behind Albert Park, with 1066 people found to be homeless in 2011, 34 per cent more than in 2006.

“In recent years, the number of social housing properties has been decreasing, and the population has been growing,” Ms Toohey said.

“We’ve got a critical shortage of affordable private rental housing and a critical shortage of public housing.

“If you look at the Melbourne area, housing stress is high and the [level] of affordable housing is low. You’ve got a real housing crunch in Melbourne that’s really exacerbating the problem.”

Greens candidate for the seat of Melbourne Ellen Sandell said the other parties had been too “slow moving” on homelessness.

“ (State Premier Denis) Napthine has followed the leader, and adopted (Prime Minister Tony) Abbott's callous attitude towards people experiencing homelessness. To be honest, I don't think there has been any thoughtful or preventative policies put in place,” she said.

“I want to see greater investment in public housing, so that we can offer alternatives to sleeping rough rather than putting someone on a five-year waiting list.”

Given the rate of construction in the Melbourne electorate and Victoria as a whole, Ms Toohey said more space should be dedicated to public and affordable housing.

“We’re seeing new apartments go up all the time and we’re seeing new properties being rezoned all the time. What could and should be happening, and what I’d like to see candidates commit to, is inclusionary zoning where a proportion of all those properties being built are dedicated to public and social housing,” she said.

Ms Toohey said the housing stress had also stretched to Melbourne’s outer suburbs, which were no longer affordable areas to rent or buy on a low-income.

“Take somewhere like Dandenong. Ten years ago eight in 10 properties were affordable to people on Centrelink income. Now it’s just two in 10. Even the places we thought were affordable, no longer provide affordable homes,” she said.

The Victorian Council of Social Service, the CHP and a number of other peak bodies in the social sector developed a joint plan this year titled Making Social Housing Work. The plan proposed an investment of $200 million a year to create a minimum of 800 new social housing properties.

Ms Toohey said the recommendations outlined in the plan were essential, but there hadn’t been enough action taken at this point in the election campaign.

“I think both sides understand that we need to be doing something different in our approach to homelessness, but at this stage no one is willing to commit to anything.”

Ms Toohey said the CHP’s pitch was based on the “really simple premise” of providing enough affordable houses for those on low income and giving them the support they needed to retain that accommodation.

“If we don’t have homes to get people into, then we’re going to have a hard time ending homelessness,” she said.

Sitting Labor member Jennifer Kanis was contacted for comment but was unable to respond before deadline.