Homelessness in the region has decreased slightly over the past five years, according to the latest national statistics, but support groups have painted a different picture.
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In Greater Bendigo, 295 people identified as homeless in the 2016 Australian Bureau of Statistics census survey – 14 less than in 2011.
Elsewhere, in Mount Alexander Shire, 64 people were considered homeless – an increase of more than 50 per cent from 2011, while homelessness in Campaspe Shire skyrocketed from 49 to 121 over the five-year period.
According to the ABS’ statistical definition, a person is homeless if they do not have suitable accommodation alternatives and their current living arrangement; is in a dwelling that is inadequate, has no tenure, or if their initial tenure is short and not extendable, or does not allow them to have control of and access to space for social relations.
Across Victoria, 24,817 people were counted as homeless in 2016 – an increase of 11 per cent from 2011.
Haven; Home, Safe spokeswoman Sue Masters said the organisation had seen an increase in the number of homeless people between 2011 and 2016.
“Our records show that the number of people ‘presenting as homeless’ to our Bendigo office have nearly doubled over the past five years to just under 1300,” she said.
Bendigo Salvation Army major Andrew Walker said less traditional perceptions of homelessness, like couch surfing, were prevalent but generally hidden.
“There’s so many factors that lead to homelessness that it’s quite a complex scenario.The problem of homelessness is often hidden but unfortunately in Bendigo we're seeing a bit more of the visible result of some of the the big cities trying to clean their streets up and people have been trekking up from Melbourne,” he said.
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Demand for the organisation’s services had increased “across the board” recently, but major Walker could not say whether this was linked to increased homelessness.
“We’re also trying to help them before they get to that stage,” he said.
“There’s definitely an increase of financial pressure on families and if not treated that can lead to homelessness.”
As of December, 1349 people in the Loddon region were on the public housing waiting list – an increase of more than 200 from December 2016.
And just over half of these individuals – 691 – were listed as ‘priority access’.
The Loddon region, which includes Campaspe, Central Goldfields, Mt Alexander, Macedon Ranges, Bendigo and Loddon shires, has just 3000 public houses.
