Data reveals an 'alarming' surge in homelessness in Victoria of 24 percent
- Posted By Ndl 1 Realty
Recent data reveals that homelessness in Victoria has risen by a staggering 24 percent in just five years.
As of Census night 2021, 30,660 people experienced homelessness in the state, up from 24,817 in 2016.
There was a 24 percent increase in the region, dwarfing the national increase of 5 percent.
Council to Homeless Persons chief executive Deborah Di Natale stressed to the state government that the “alarming surge” needed to spur action by investing.
“These grim numbers show exactly why the Victorian Government must fund highly successful programs like From Homelessness to a Home (H2H), which provides stable housing and support for people who are sleeping rough,” she said.
The success of H2H in accommodating individuals in hotels during the Covid pandemic is evident; however, the current figures indicate a greater need for assistance.
A Housing First program, in accordance with international standards, was launched in mid-2020 to support up to 2000 Victorians.
As of June 30, funding for the program is not guaranteed.
A state budget proposal calls for $40 million in spending in the next financial year to extend H2H and a total of $220.6 million in four years for the program to expand to 2400 households.
Victorian Greens support a Housing First approach, which emphasises securing housing as a first priority, then addressing any other hardships or issues.
Tenants Victoria chief executive Jennifer Beveridge described the trends shown in the 2021 Census data as “very concerning.”
“Two years on from when this data was collected, we are not hearing that it’s getting any better for the renters experiencing disadvantage that our services assist daily,” she said.
The government should "appropriately fund" frontline services, called Beveridge.
In 2016, there were approximately 116,500 people homeless across Australia on Census night.
As the Census was conducted during the lockdown, it allowed more people to be reached and counted, which resulted in a more accurate picture of homelessness.