By Prealene Khera
Housing affordability and homelessness is the number one issue plaguing residents in the Fraser electorate, a new study shows.
In responding to the Salvation Army’s Social Justice Stocktake survey, nearly 60 per cent of locals from Fraser, which covers most suburbs in Brimbank and Maribyrnong, identified housing, homelessness, and mental health as primary problems within the community.
The results from the nationwide report of the issues affecting both communities and individuals in each federal electorate, were released by the Salvation Army on February 20, and showed that those living in Fraser shared similar concerns to the rest of the country.
According to Sunshine Salvos Captain Colin Reynolds, the report’s findings are consistent with what the organisation encounters on a regular basis.
“Homelessness is a huge problem in Brimbank,” he said.
“It is a prevailing issue in the area, there’s more and more people on the streets –they’re very disadvantaged.
“The report is mirroring exactly what we’re seeing.”
The study suggests there are about 1799 people experiencing homelessness in Fraser alone.
Mental health was the second-most pressing issue identified by locals, with poor mental wellbeing linked with housing stress and homelessness according to the report.
Mr Reynolds said the ongoing cost-of-living crisis exacerbated those stressors even further.
“We are not only assisting people who are struggling with being able to put food on their table and are living on low incomes, but also people who are in a position of being relatively asset stable,” he said.
“It’s because the costs of their mortgage, rental, shopping and utilities are so high, that they need that extra bit of help.”
Given the financial hardship being experienced by a significant percentage of the local population, Mr Reynolds said services provided by Salvos and similar organisations continue to be vital.
“There’s no doubt that the support we provide is more important now than ever before,” he said.
“We are providing for people on a weekly basis and that remains quite crucial.”
