Housing Minister Richard Wynne makes his point during the Cranbourne Housing Roundtable forum last week.
By Callan Date
THE City of Casey is set to get a decent share of more than 2300 new public houses due to be built across Victoria.
Housing Minister Richard Wynne made the announcement during discussions at the Cranbourne Housing Roundtable forum at the William Angliss Institute of TAFE in Cranbourne East on Friday.
Cranbourne MP Jude Perera hosted the event, which was also attended by many of the welfare organisations that assist Casey residents under housing and financial stress.
Officials from Windermere Child and Family Services, Cranbourne Information Support Service and WAYSS Housing and Support Services had the opportunity to highlight to the Minister the many problems Casey residents are facing.
A common theme was the high percentage of people under ‘housing stress’, a term used to describe a household paying more than 30 per cent of its income on rent or mortgage repayments.
Mr Wynne said it was vital he hear first-hand the experiences of those at the front line of the housing battle.
“You can’t address the issues of housing with one sector of government,” he said.
“It requires the three tiers of government to work together on the issue.”
Casey councillor Paul Richardson also attended the event and echoed Mr Wynne’s view.
“It is a problem we all share, whatever class or status we stand in society and which needs serious addressing,” Cr Richardson said.
Mr Wynne said total public housing stock across the City of Casey had increased by more than six per cent since 1999.
“The most recent State Budget contained a record $510 million to create safe, affordable housing for all Victorians and to tackle homelessness,” Mr Wynne said.
“As part of this, more than 2350 new affordable homes will be created across Victoria.”
Mr Wynne said 1956 public housing properties existed in the City of Casey with more on the agenda.
Domestic violence was also a major issue contributing to housing issues, he said.
Mr Wynne said recent Brumby Government initiatives to boost the supply of affordable housing in the Cranbourne area included an Integrated Family Violence facility to provide accommodation for women and their children fleeing family violence.
The housing crisis issue will again be put under the spotlight when Casey Council holds its Housing Stress and Homeless Conference on 16 October.
