Astonishing waiting list for homes keep rising

Alex de Vos
State Government has left another 45 families homeless as thousands languish on the Geelong region’s growing waiting list for public housing, according to the opposition.
The Government this week released latest figures showing the waiting list had grown to 2140 by the end of last year.
The statewide list had also risen, reaching 37,860 families in December, up 2988 on the same time the previous year.
Geelong’s Salvation Army Social Housing Service said increasing calls for help were mirroring the Government’s public housing figures.
“The figures are not surprising – it has definitely increased,” a centre spokesperson said.
Shadow Minister for Housing Wendy Lovell said the “astonishing” waiting list was a “great concern” for the region and state.
“Each statistic on the waiting list represents a household,” Ms Lovell said.
“Minister for Housing Richard Wynne needs to stop talking dollars and cents and start counting the human cost.”
Ms Lovell also expressed concern about Geelong’s waiting list for the category of early housing, which had increased by three families to 366.
“The early housing waiting list represents vulnerable families who are at risk of recurring homelessness, who are coping with a disability or who have special housing needs,” Ms Lovell said.
“Mr Wynne needs to realise there is a crisis in housing.”
Mr Wynne blamed the global financial crisis.
He vowed to “deliver 5000 new homes to public and housing association stocks in the next two years”.
“The Brumby Government has committed a record $580 million to public housing and homelessness over the past two budgets,” Mr Wynne said.
“The Brumby Government is taking action to provide Victorians with suitable, stable and affordable housing through record investments and commitments.
“The opposition has offered no policy alternatives or constructive suggests to tackle the pressure on public housing.
“While they waffle, we are building.”