Homelessness in East Gippsland has surged over 15 per cent in the past year, exacerbating an already critical housing crisis.
Currently, only 2.2 per cent of Gippsland’s private rental properties are vacant, leaving more than 30,000 Victorians, many from East Gippsland, without stable housing.
Homelessness often means living in cars, couch surfing, or staying in shelters.
Family violence, financial stress and the housing crisis are key factors driving this issue. Alarmingly 30 per cent of renters report experiencing rental stress, and more than 7500 Gippsland households face severe overcrowding or spend more than a third of their income on rent.
Last year, more than 3700 households sought homelessness services in Gippsland, marking a 15 per cent increase.
Richard Evans, GLCH’s manager for youth, homelessness, and men’s services, highlighted the dire housing shortage.
GLCH’s homelessness support case manager, Donna Pendergast, emphasises her team’s efforts in breaking down barriers to secure housing, managing referrals, collaborating with community housing organisations, and supporting clients in their housing applications.
GLCH supports the Victorian Homelessness Network’s Houses at Parliament campaign, which advocates for State and Federal governments to build 60,000 additional social homes and develop a 10-year national plan to end homelessness.
This year, GLCH staff collaborated with students from Gippsland Grammar to fold hundreds of origami houses for the campaign, resulting in an impressive display on the steps of Parliament House that highlighted the urgent need for government action to address the housing crisis and end homelessness.
“The homelessness crisis in East Gippsland is a significant concern. Several factors have contributed to this issue, including the high cost of living, unemployment, and a tough rental market,” Kathy Dickinson, executive manager of Family, Youth and Children Services at GLCH, said.
“The region has experienced a perfect storm” of long droughts, bushfires, and the COVID-19 pandemic, which have exacerbated the situation.”
According to the Council on Homeless Persons (CHP), homelessness in Victoria has jumped 24 per cent in six years, underscoring the urgent need for a national strategy. Women, particularly those facing family violence, lower incomes, or belonging to vulnerable groups, are disproportionately affected. Safe and affordable social housing, along with supportive services, is crucial for women and children fleeing violence.
GLCH urges the government to commit to building more social housing and to implement robust measures to end homelessness.
