Homelessness hits hard as organisations take action

Wayss CEO Liz Thomas.

By Danielle Kutchel

The reality is that most of us are just one or two paychecks away from being out on the streets.

And it’s a reality that’s hit hard during the Covid-19 pandemic – although the problem existed well before the virus hit.

Homelessness is increasingly felt out here in the east and south-east, where nearly half of the state’s social housing waiting list are based.

At the council meeting on Tuesday 21 July, the City of Casey signed up to the Regional Local Government Homelessness and Social Housing Charter.

The charter consists of 13 eastern and south-eastern Councils and represents two million residents. It was developed following a forum initiated by Monash Council with stakeholders across the region uniting for action on social housing, and advocates for an increased amount of social housing in the region to help address homelessness.

City of Casey chair of administrators, Noelene Duff, said that Casey’s “wholehearted support of a regional framework for action is very high priority.”

“More than 44,000 households are waiting for social housing and 40 per cent of those are in the east/south-east region,” she said.

“This is why a collective effort is required across the region, by each council and in the State and Federal Government context, to make meaningful change.

“We are seeing the ongoing impact of the Coronavirus pandemic is continuing to hit the most vulnerable in our community, including those who until recently had employment and homes, but are now requiring assistance.”

At the council meeting, the administrators heard that 4,065 individuals had accessed homelessness services in Casey, the second-highest number of any municipality in Victoria.

The council’s endorsement comes ahead of National Homelessness Week, from 2 to 8 August.

To mark the week, the interim report of the Inquiry into Homelessness in Victoria was released on Tuesday 4 August.

While the inquiry itself will continue until February 2021, the interim report provides a snapshot of the key areas that those who made a submission to the inquiry believe are the most important, collected via a survey.

Respondents listed public housing as their top policy priority, but housing affordability and rough sleeping were also high priorities for respondents.

The survey results reinforce other evidence collected by the committee that “the key to preventing and ending homelessness is an adequate supply of safe, affordable, long-term housing,” the report said.

Support agency Wayss is at the forefront of the homelessness problem.

CEO Liz Thomas said Covid-19 had brought about a sort of reckoning in the community as people realise what homelessness means.

“We’ve all now realised that a homeless person isn’t a drunk guy with a bottle and brown paper bag on a park bench; it’s the person you worked with last month,” she said.

Wayss wants to see targeted, specific solutions, jointly implemented by all those involved: support agencies, local councils, state and federal governments.

It’s a job that’s complicated by the fact that no one knows how long Covid will go on for.

But Ms Thomas said “it all comes back to housing”.

In their submission to the Inquiry earlier this year, Wayss called for greater provision of affordable and appropriate housing: one and two bedroom properties that can provide a safe option for young people and those living on their own.

Wayss also supports incentive-based inclusionary zoning in new housing developments, where a percentage of the development is set aside for social housing.

This year, Wayss has responded to people experiencing homelessness for the first time as well as an increased number of families escaping family violence.

Calls to Wayss for family violence support dropped slightly during the last lockdown and peaked as restrictions were lifted, and Ms Thomas said she expects to see a similar pattern this time.

She added it was important for women to know they are able to leave the house during lockdown to escape violence and seek assistance.

“If you’re a victim of family violence you can leave your home at any time to get help,” she said.

Wayss can provide housing support in this situation, with a focus on finding ways for women and their children to remain in the family home if it is safe to do so, rather than having to find somewhere new to live, and linking them with trauma and mental health support too.

And as the pandemic continues, Ms Thomas said Wayss would continue to work with governments and other support services to prepare for the “unmet need”.

“We don’t know what we’re gong to be facing on the other side but we do need to work in collaboration, to pool our resources to come up with the best possible solution.

“Ultimately, giving people homes is, I believe, our fundamental rsponsbility as a community,” she said.

If you are experiencing family violence and need help, you can call 1800 RESPECT, or Safe Steps on 1800 015 188. You can also email Safe Steps on safesteps@safesteps.org.au or visit their website for live web chat support.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 000.