Housing crisis for battlers

By Melissa Meehan
Financial issues, with many finding it difficult to scrape together enough money to pay the rent, topped the list for reasons of the struggle.
Two thousand, five hundred and thirty one calls were made to WAYSS in Pakenham last year as Bass MP Ken Smith warned that homelessness could become a major issue for the electorate.
Speaking at the Housing Forum, Mr Smith said agencies were often forced to turn people away because a decreasing stock of emergency and supported accommodation meant there was no where to place them.
The meeting was attended by 50 people and included representatives from the Department of Housing, Bass Coast and Cardinia-Casey regional health services, Cardinia councillors, welfare agencies and public housing tenants.
“Over the months I have been contacted by agencies and many people desperate for help,” he said.
“These people may be trying to flee domestic violence, have lost their jobs or fallen on hard times.”
Cardinia Shire General Manager for Planning and Development Phil Walton also spoke at the meeting.
He said six new families moved into the shire every day, and while council was not a housing provider its role was to develop policies that would ensure a range of housing types to accommodate community needs.