A visit to Quantum Support Services’ youth residential building in Morwell has highlighted the urgent need for more social and affordable housing in the Latrobe Valley for The Nationals’ Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron, and Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Melina Bath.
The youth refuge, comprised of six self-contained units, operates as a crisis facility that provides short-term emergency accommodation, information and support for young people at risk of homelessness.
“Young people at the facility receive fantastic wraparound support from staff and complete an action plan to increase their independent living skills, connections, and access to support services,” Mr Cameron said.
“They also receive support to source suitable housing options, but the problem is there is an acute shortage of social and affordable housing in the Valley so these young people have nowhere to go.
“The state government allocated a minimum of $60 million to the Latrobe Valley when its Big Housing Build was announced more than three years ago, but the Latrobe local government area has actually lost 37 public housing properties since 2018 under Labor.
“This is the government’s own data, and beneath all the grandstanding about addressing the housing crisis is the reality that local public housing stocks have actually reduced.
“Our local support services do a power of work, but they are stretched thin and not adequately resourced.”
Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows 2783 people in Latrobe accessed Specialised Homelessness Services (SHS) in the 2022-23 financial year – more than any other regional municipality in Victoria.
Homelessness in the Latrobe Valley has also increased 85% in the five years to 21, according to data from the Council to Homeless Persons.
“This data is damning, and it doesn’t even account for the huge number of people and families who are sleeping in their cars, couch surfing, living in motels, or finding temporary respite in overcrowded dwellings.” Ms Bath said.
“Billions are spent on mega city projects like the Suburban Rail Loop to benefit metropolitan Melbourne, but when it comes to providing the bare necessities like housing in regional Victoria, the Allan Government goes missing time and time again.
“The repeated and chronic underspending in regional Victoria has exacerbated the housing and homelessness crisis, and I implore the Minister for Housing to do everything in her power to address the dire shortage.”
