Demand for housing assistance is growing “exponentially” across the region, as more and more central Victorians are under housing stress, according to Haven; Home, Safe services Chief Operations Officer Trudi Ray.
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Homelessness is a growing problem across Australia as rental prices soar and housing supply drops.
In regional areas such as Bendigo homelessness can be hidden, as rather than sleeping on the streets, people are forced into overcrowded accommodation or living out of their cars.
Ms Ray said homelessness could be just a pay packet away for many Australians.
“It’s really important to really understand that homelessness affects many people and is not a single issue problem,” she said.
“It certainly doesn’t discriminate between ages, genders and cultures.”
The latest census showed that the rate of homelessness had increased by 4.6 percent between 2011 and 2016.
Ms Ray said Bendigo had been hit hard by the effects of Victoria’s first home buyer stamp duties concession.
While this has been good for first home buyers, it has caused the private rental vacancy rate to drop significantly, creating a more competitive rental market.
It was “a classic case of supply and demand”, Ms Ray said, as a drop in rental availability drove prices up.
This has put more people than Haven has seen before under rental stress, defined as a household spending more than 30 percent of their income on housing costs.
She called for a national housing plan to address the under supply of housing.
“All the studies of late have confirmed that our national housing system is broken,” Ms Ray said.
“If you come into our client centres… they are full. Every morning there is an influx of people coming trying to seek differing services and assistance.”
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Elspeth Kernebone
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
