Tara Murray
More than 4000 people are waiting for social housing in Brimbank and Melton according to new data.
The state government recently released data about the number of Victorians waiting for social housing.
The west division of the list – which includes Wyndham, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melton, Brimbank and Greater Geelong – has the highest number of applicants in the state, with 17,045 submissions during the September quarter (in comparison, during June, 16,467 people were awaiting social housing in the region).
The Brimbank and Melton office, which is based in Sunshine, has 4073 people are on the waiting list.
Of those 1875 are listed as needing “priority access” to a new home, including existing tenants who require relocation due to their current property being unsafe due to a reason such as family violence.
The Opposition spokesperson for housing, Ryan Smith, said almost 53,000 Victorians are waiting for social housing.
Community Information and Support Victoria (CISVic) – a peak body representing 55 local services that deliver emergency relief, information, support and referrals to people in need – has launched a campaign calling on the state government to build 7000 new social and public housing properties per year, across the next decade.
CISVic executive officer Kate Wheller said: “Our member agencies are being overwhelmed by people who are homeless or about to lose their home”.
“There is just not enough affordable housing for everyone. We need to have a real, commitment to fix this problem once and for all.”
The state government is currently building social housing in Brimbank and Melton as part of the Big Housing Build.
The Big Housing Build will provide more than 12,000 new homes across the state, creating 10,000 jobs a year and boosting social housing stocks by 10 per cent.
There are three locations in Brimbank – Cairnlea, St Albans and Sydenham.
A spokesperson said the state government was working with community housing organisations, councils and community agencies to unlock land and increase the capacity of social housing providers.
