Region rated ‘worst’ for housing disabled

Alex de Vos
A “severe” housing crisis has engulfed more than 90 of the region’s disabled residents, according to a new report.
State opposition mental health spokesperson Mary Wooldridge said the parliamentary report revealed that Geelong’s Barwon-South West region had the most people waiting for disability accommodation in country Victoria.
The report, released earlier this month, found that 95 residents were in “immediate” need of supported accommodation.
Sixty-three per cent of disabled residents were living with elderly parents, the report said.
Ms Wooldridge said the figures were “disappointing”.
“The inquiry, initiated by the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition, exposed a broken system that has left people with mental illness and disability languishing on waiting lists or in inappropriate accommodation for years,” she said.
“The committee found that we need more support accommodation beds for people with a disability and mental illness and recommends new funding for additional places in country areas.”
However, Ms Wooldridge believed the report failed to reflect the desperation of elderly carers struggling to look after disabled adult children.
“I have seen the tears of ageing parents who are too afraid to die for fear that their vulnerable adult child will not receive proper care and accommodation,” she said.
“Families in Barwon South-West have dedicated so much of their lives to caring for a loved one with a mental illness or disability and the Brumby Government must take action to help them.”
Karingal Community Living general manager Robyn Bradshaw labelled the housing shortage a “significant issue” in Geelong.
“The lack of support accommodation for people in Geelong is a significant issue that we face as service provider,” Ms Bradshaw said.
“There are people who are waiting for long-term accommodation and have been for years – it puts a lot of pressure on families.”
A spokesperson for Community Services Minister Lisa Neville said the Government had committed an extra $86.9 million to “improve the lives and living standards if vulnerable Victorians”.
“In the Barwon South-West region alone we are currently building 32 new supported accommodation place in addition to upgrading existing properties,” the spokesperson said.