By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
THE public housing system is “broken” and an overhaul of the state’s public housing inventory is desperately needed, according to a Berwick Reverend.
The Reverend Robert Carner stressed that public housing had to be considered a privilege and not a right to prevent tenants from abusing the system.
He has previously spoken specifically on the issue with former Premier Ted Ballieu at a Victorian Church Leaders panel in 2012.
“Shouldn’t one’s entitlement to a Department of Human Services (DHS) house have some contingency on how they maintain the property? he said.
“I have encountered many people that could afford a private rental but they have made DHS housing a way of life and see cheap rent as an entitlement.
“This is very wrong.”
Rev Carner said tenants would benefit from being taught how to take care of a home and keep it clean, healthy and safe.
“There must be an annual review where the tenant should prove that they have made attempts to improve their position and are moving toward independence,” he said.
“Those who are found to abuse DHS housing should not be permitted to retain their current house nor obtain a subsequent one.”
Rev Carner also said there was a need for an active inventory of public housing and called for a designated team to assess any empty properties that could be retained for DHS purposes.
“The government acknowledges that there are many vacant DHS dwellings, many waiting for repairs, others lost in the system and they don’t actually know where or how many there are,” he said.
“Certainly, there would be archival records but unless the inventory of all units, regardless of the condition is kept current, no degree of efficiency in the system can be attained.”
A DHS spokesperson said the department does not ask for a potential tenant’s rental history or rental references when they lodge an application for public housing.
The spokesperson said applicants must meet the eligibility criteria which includes living in Victoria, being on a lower income, having Australian citizenship or permanent residency status and not own or part own a house, flat or unit.
