In the lead-up to homelessness week, 6000 origami homes were placed on the steps of the Victorian Parliament, highlighting just one-tenth of the current public housing waiting list.
“Victoria is in a housing crisis and it is devastating to see the number of people without a home,” The Nationals Member for Shepparton District Kim O’Keeffe said.
“The thousands of little houses on the steps of parliament, representing people without a home, symbolise the extent of the housing shortages, and the Labor government has to do much better to reduce these numbers.
Mrs O’Keeffe said that her office had been inundated with people struggling to find a place to live, as well as those who are struggling to pay their rent.
“Our region has one of the highest rates of homelessness in Victoria, and I have raised our housing crisis in Parliament with the Housing Minister,” Mrs O’Keeffe said.
In 2023 – 2024, more than 1200 people were experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless across Greater Shepparton.
“Beyond housing is overwhelmed and unable to meet the demand,” Mrs O’Keeffe said.
“Cost of living pressure is also impacting people not to be able to afford their rent, which has seen an increase in homelessness.”
“Victoria’s net debt is set to reach a record $187.8 billion by 2027-28 under Labor, with interest repayments alone costing nearly $26 million every day.
“This money should be spent on essential services like social housing instead of city-centric projects in Melbourne.
“The Allan Labor Government have their priorities all wrong.
“Labor can’t manage money, can’t manage housing, and Victoria’s most vulnerable are paying the price.”