Families forced to wait for social housing in Benalla

With tree-changers fleeing metropolitan areas in record numbers as a result of the pandemic, the problem has only multiplied.

However, it is a lack of social housing that is causing many families the biggest headache.

State Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell recently slammed the government’s social housing record.

The government, however, points to its $5.3 billion Big Housing Build, and highlighted that 45 new social housing properties were due to be delivered in Benalla and Wangaratta.

Ms Lovell, in turn, questioned if that was enough, with recent data confirming the waiting list for social housing in Benalla, and Wangaratta, was growing — with more than 850 families needing accommodation.

“The ... (Victorian) Government has failed vulnerable families in Benalla and Wangaratta through its failure to address the growing need for social housing,” Ms Lovell said.

“It is unacceptable that the number of families urgently waiting for priority housing has more than tripled to reach 457 families under this government.

“The government must do more to address this growing need for social housing in Benalla and Wangaratta.”

Ms Lovell pointed to figures released in September that showed the list of vulnerable families waiting for social housing in Benalla and Wangaratta had reached an all-time high of 855, an increase of 397 or 86.68 per cent since the last state election.

Of even greater concern is the escalating number of families on the ‘priority housing list’, which has more than tripled, increasing by 335 to reach a total of 457 families.

Priority applicants include the most vulnerable community members, including those who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, escaping domestic violence or living with a disability or special housing need.

Ms Lovell said the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing’s Annual Report revealed the wait time for access to housing for those on the ‘priority list’ had extended from 8.7 months in June 2014 to 12.4 months in June 2021.

That’s an additional 3.7 months before vulnerable families are housed — an increase in waiting time of 43 per cent.

A government spokesperson said its priority was the health and safety of Victorians, and it was investing in more social housing.

“We've put the health and safety of Victorians first throughout the pandemic and put support measures in place such as rent relief grants, wage subsidies and the extreme hardship support program,” the spokesperson said.

“We’re getting on with delivering our landmark $5.3 billion Big Housing Build – the largest single investment in social and affordable housing in Australia’s history, boosting our state’s social housing supply by 10 per cent in just four years.

“The Big Housing Build is investing $1.25 billion in housing projects across regional Victoria, including at least $20 million in Wangaratta.

“Thanks to Victorian Government investments, work is already under way to deliver 45 social housing homes across Wangaratta and Benalla.”