The Nationals’ Member for Shepparton District, Kim O’Keeffe has called on the Minister for Housing, Harriet Shing, in Parliament to address the region’s rising rate of homelessness and to do an audit on the number of public social housing that are currently empty in the Shepparton District, a region that is facing a deepening housing crisis.
“The Shepparton District is experiencing a housing crisis and has one of the highest rates of homelessness in regional Victoria.
“Local services report long waiting lists with an alarming 2,665 people on the public housing waiting lists. Of those, 1,447 are priority status and this delay is potentially life changing, particularly for families with children, fleeing family violence, older residents, and people living with disability.
“There are an estimated 436 individuals on any given night that are without a permanent home or a roof over their head. Of the 436 individuals, around 162 are aged 19 or younger, further highlighting the crisis of youth homelessness.
“We cannot afford to have any houses sitting empty when we have so many people on the public housing list. There are houses that are in need of repairs or maintenance delaying the much needed opportunity for occupancy.
“The shortage of public housing is leaving vulnerable members of the community without stable homes, pushing many into overcrowded conditions, temporary shelters, or worse, homelessness.
“Housing is a basic human right, but too many people in the Shepparton District are being left behind. Without urgent investment in public housing, we risk seeing even greater levels of homelessness and hardship”, Ms O’Keeffe said.
Community groups across the region are calling on all levels of government to work together to deliver a significant increase in public housing stock in the Shepparton District.
New developments must be prioritised to meet the immediate need and to ensure the region’s most vulnerable residents have access to safe and secure housing.
“We urgently need more public housing. Everyone deserves a roof over their head and a place to call home.
“Proof that the Allan Labor Government can’t manage housing, can’t manage money and it’s regional Victorians left paying the price.”
