Before moving into public housing, Geoffrey Lennie was forced to move house 43 times in 40 years.
Key points:
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In March, the number of households on Victoria’s social housing waiting list rose to 54,945, up from 50,839 in 2021.
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The Victorian government has pledged to build 12,000 social housing units by the end of 2025
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Tenants’ advocates say the initiative is off to a good start, but Victoria has a long way to go.
A combination of steady rent increases, homeowners selling their homes, and the stigma he encountered when he was receiving a disability pension forced him to repeatedly navigate the “slaughterhouse” of the private market. Melbourne rental.
“I remember filling out a rental application. I took a few steps from the counter to ask a guy for something and saw how the guy I was talking to was already leaving my application in the trash.” said Lennie.
“You go straight to the bottom. They think, ‘You’re in welfare, we can do better than that.'”
More than 2,000 people live in the tall public housing towers of Richmond. (Provided by: Victorian government)
After applying for public housing, Mr Lennie would spend another seven years on the waiting list, before finally finding a place to call his home in Seaford, south-east Melbourne.
He says having a permanent home has changed his life.
“I won’t go to the doctor that much anymore, my health has improved tremendously and I no longer live on the brink of anxiety,” Lennie said.
“I am able to pay for electricity, I can pay all the bills with my pension, and I have enough left to live a civilized life.”
That was over a decade ago. Since then, Mr. Lennie fears it has only gotten worse for others waiting for housing, a concern that is reflected in government figures.
In March this year, the number of households on Victoria’s social housing waiting list grew to 54,945, up from 50,839 in 2021.
Of this list, more than half (30,508 applicants) are on the priority access list, which means that their housing needs are urgent.
The Victorian Public Tenants Association (VPTA) estimates that the waiting list has more than 110,000 people in need of a home.
“We’re talking about single people, small families, single parents with children or two parents with children, all waiting for access to safe housing,” said Katelyn Butterss, VPTA CEO.
The existing 21-story towers in Richmond will be upgraded as part of the Victorian government building. (Provided by: Victorian government)
New homes and planned improvements
According to the Australian Productivity Commission, Victoria spent the least amount of public housing per capita in all Australian states and territories in 2019: $ 75 per person, compared to $ 135 in NSW.
In an attempt to catch up, the Victorian government launched a $ 5.3 billion infrastructure initiative the following year, with the ambitious goal of building more than 12,000 social housing units by the end of 2025.
Part of that includes the redevelopment of public housing in North Richmond, with a $ 200 million government investment to provide sports facilities and playgrounds, as well as 144 new homes in a site that already houses more than 2,000 residents.
The government plans to build 114 new social and affordable housing units in Richmond over the next two years. (Provided by: Victorian government)
Funding will also be used to improve the school dropout area in Richmond West Primary, providing additional CCTV cameras to the estate and renovating existing 21-story towers.
“These are the types of investments that will really make a fundamental difference in the lives of the people who live here,” said Housing Minister Richard Wynne.
On Wellington Street, near Collingwood, the government has also pledged to build 152 new affordable social housing units that can accommodate about 300 Victorians.
Proponents say housing action “not enough”
But the VPTA says that while the initiative is a good start, Victoria has a long way to go.
“It’s a huge commitment. When people say it’s historic, they’re absolutely right, because it’s like that,” Ms Butterss said.
“But unfortunately our situation in Victoria is such that 12,000 properties is not enough.”
The state is moving away from building free grain and toward more medium-density life options.
Ms Butterss estimates that Victoria needs to build 60,000 properties over the next 10 years to keep up with demand, as cost of living pressures worsen.
“It’s not hard to imagine that as mortgages become more expensive for people, they may be forced to look for accommodation in the private rental market,” Ms Butterss said.
“This could force downward pressure on the social housing waiting list as private rents become increasingly difficult to obtain.”
The government says 1,300 homes have been built since November 2020 and work has begun on 6,000 more.
A 10-year strategy for social and affordable housing in Victoria will be published this year.
Posted 11 hours ago 11 hours, Saturday, June 11, 2022 at 9:07 PM, updated 4 hours, 4 hours ago, Sunday, June 12, 2022 at 4:11 AM