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MORE and more people are needing emergency housing but services struggle with limited financial resources, a spokesperson for Bendigo housing organisation Haven; Home, Safe says.
Haven; Home, Safe is providing emergency housing to the adult son of Christine, a Marong woman who has spoken out about her disgust at a lack of funding for accommodation.
When Christine approached Haven in search of a place for her intellectually disabled son, it could only offer two nights in a motel or $180 for a tent and sleeping bag.
After speaking with the Department of Health and Human Services, funding was released to pay for a few more nights.
Haven; Home, Safe communications and marketing director Sue Masters said her organisation did what it could do with the money available.
"There’s a finite amount of government funds available both from federal and state to provide services in this sector," she said.
"It’s pretty tough. We’re all in the same boat whether it's a government funded agency or a not-for-profit government agency such as ourselves.
"As we see increasing numbers of disadvantaged people, of course there needs to be more funding available to ensure there’s some sort of safety net."
Ms Masters said the federal government's recent extension of the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness and the state government's agreement to match that funding was an encouraging step.
"We know we’ve got at least two years worth of funding secure.
"As to what that looks like and how that’s going to be allocated, that’s still very much an unknown at this stage."
A Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson said Christine's son's immediate housing needs had been met and it was anticipated that he would shortly be housed in local supported accommodation.
Christine confirmed this, saying that the accommodation was in Kyneton.
But she said her son, who has the mind of a 10-year-old, was "extremely distressed" about being housed so far from his parents.
"The department understands the difficult circumstances the family finds itself in and we are working closely with them to find long term accommodation and support that meets (the man's) needs," the spokesperson said.
"Haven; Home, Safe is the service provider for emergency accommodation in the Bendigo area and provides assistance to those with or without a disability."
Christine said it was sad that Haven was the only facility in Bendigo to cater for every person facing a situation similar to her son's.