By Max Hatzoglou
Housing affordability and mental health are the two most important social justice issues to residents of the Fraser and Gorton federal electorates, according to new research.
The Salvation Army surveyed more than 15,000 people as part of its National Social Justice Stocktake Report (NSJSR) to determine the issues impacting communities across the nation.
Housing affordability was named as the top concern in both electorates. In Fraser, 52.9 per cent of respondents named it as one of their top issues, while it was a concern for 50 per cent of respondents in Gorton.
The report said that Fraser had a higher proportion of one-parent families compared to the national average and a lower median household income ($1231 per week versus $1438 per week nationally).
“These factors may have influenced the high ranking of housing affordability and homelessness issues as
priority social justice concerns in Fraser,” the report said.
“There is also a social housing shortfall of some 1300 homes, and an estimated 3200 people in Fraser who are experiencing homelessness.”
The report said the was a housing shortfall of 600 homes in Gorton, with an estimated 2800 people experiencing homelessness.
Sunshine Salvation Army captain Colin Reynolds said the data come as no surprise to him.
“The fact that 52.9 per cent of [Fraser] responders express concern over the rising unaffordability of housing comes as no surprise to me,” Mr Reynolds said.
“As the officer at The Salvation Army Sunshine, we have noted a steady increase in the numbers of community members coming to Sunshine Salvos for assistance because the cost of living has stretched people beyond their means in our local community.
“The gentrification of Sunshine, within the greater City of Brimbank is really making life hard for many who just can’t afford to live here anymore.”
Mental health rated second in both electorates ( 50 per cent in Fraser and 47.1 per cent in Gorton).
Alcohol and drug misuse was the third most important issue to Fraser residents (48 per cent), followed by homelessness (37.3 per cent) and family violence (31.4 per cent).
In Gorton, family violence was the third most important issue (46.2 per cent), followed by alcohol and drug misuse (38.5 per cent) and unemployment and underemployment (29.8 per cent).
