Homes wait pain for more families

Kim Waters
An “astounding” jump in public housing waiting lists shows the Brumby Government is failing disadvantaged families in the Geelong region, according to the state opposition.
Shadow minister for housing Wendy Lovell slammed the Government after new figures revealed another 82 families had joined Geelong’s public housing waiting list.
The number of low-income families waiting for housing in the region rose from 2285 in December to 2367 in March, she said.
“That’s an astounding increase in a single quarter and highlights the Brumby Government’s failure to deliver effective affordable housing policies over the past 11 years, leading to a crisis across all levels of housing in Victoria.”
Ms Lovel said an “early housing” list of residents at risk of recurring homelessness, with a disability or with special housing needs surged to 579, an increase of 21 since December.
“These are the most vulnerable Victorians who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, disabled or have special medical needs,” she said.
“The 2010/2011 state budget revealed that waiting times for urgent early housing have blown out under Labor, with vulnerable families expected to wait an average of eight months for a home in 2009/2010, up from 2.8 months in 1999.”
Housing Minister Richard Wynne defended the figures.
“The Brumby Labor Government is committed to putting a roof over the heads of our most vulnerable Victorians and we are making a record investment to deliver this,” Mr Wynne said.
“In 1999 the state-wide public housing waiting list stood at more than 41,000 applicants but that number has fallen to 39,794.”
Mr Wynne said the Office of Housing had recently written to people on the waiting list offering referrals for registered housing associations in their areas.
“The Brumby Labor Government works in partnership with housing associations across Victoria to provide housing to vulnerable Victorians.
“We’re working shoulder to shoulder with the Rudd Labor Government to build 4500 social housing dwellings…as well as implementing the National Rental Affordability Scheme, with an initial commitment for more than 3000 units in the private rental market.”