The City of Casey is estimated to have roughly 409 people experiencing homelessness, according to the Social Justice Stocktake report from the Salvation Army.
The 2025 report also added that 76.2 per cent of people identified housing affordability and homelessness as issues in the community, a jump from the 55.3 per cent (housing affordability) and 27.2 per cent (homelessness) figures in 2022.
Additionally, 34.3 per cent identified goth factors as an issue for themselves, as the municipality shows an unmet housing need of 2500 dwellings.
Homelessness and housing affordability topped the list among key concerns for Casey’s residents, followed by mental health, financial hardship and inclusion, access to health care, and climate change.
Mental health was the top issue identified to impact individuals, and the second-highest in community concern.
During the Army’s previous Stocktake, 67 per cent of people in Casey identified mental health as an issue.
This comes as the most recent Census stated that 10.3 per cent of people reported being diagnosed with a long-term mental health condition, such as anxiety and depression.
Casey also submitted its National Housing and Homelessness Plan in October 2023, revealing a shortfall of more than 5600 affordable homes.
This is a gap that is expected to nearly double by 2041 unless urgent action is taken.
Casey’s report puts forward 12 recommendations aimed at the State and Federal government, including calls for mandatory affordable housing quotas, funding for proven prevention programs, and greater protections for vulnerable cohorts like asylum seekers and victim-survivors of family violence.
The data also added that Casey has the second-highest number of women and the third-highest number of children accessing homelessness services in Victoria.
Rental stress and the lack of one-bedroom dwellings are also key drivers, particularly in the city’s fast-growing outer suburbs.
