By Callum Ludwig
The latest available census data from 2016 indicated around 360 Yarra Ranges and 365 Knox residents were experiencing some form of homelessness, but local charities and support services are working hard to turn the tide.
In 2016 Anchor Homelessness Support provided 6,579 episodes of housing and support services.
In 2022 Anchor CEO Heidi Tucker said it is likely the numbers have increased, despite difficulties collecting true figures in the past.
“Often when people complete censuses, or when you talk to them, they don’t necessarily define themselves as homeless, as they might be sleeping on someone’s couch, or they’re moving from one place to another. I would say yes, the numbers have definitely increased since 2016,” she said.
“The whole sector has worked quite hard to make sure that people without homes are counted, including being involved with the ABS to improve the ability to count people who are homeless.”
Not-for-profit independent charity Holy Fools’ Founder and CEO Neal Taylor said that the number of homeless people far exceeds census data as there are reasons people cannot or will not be defined as homeless.
“I would estimate about 600 are homeless in the Yarra Ranges as we speak. The number recorded in the census is only those who want it to be recorded or those who could even access it all,” he said.
“There is not just a lot of visible homelessness, but a lot of invisible homelessness. However, we are now starting to see a change with more and more people sleeping in doorways, in shops, and open areas.”
Census data from 2021 is set to be released in a staged process from June 2022 by the Australia Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
There have been a number of key issues raised over the last few years that have contributed to the homelessness concern in the Upper Yarra and wider Yarra Valley, including the large number of people converting properties to AirBnB’s, damage from the June 2021 storms, Covid-19 restrictions and job loss, and rising house prices.
Ms Tucker said sharp increases in house prices in the area mean the accessibility to a home in the Yarra Valley or Dandenong Ranges is more difficult than in 2016.
“House prices have increased so much in the last five years, and it is now pushing out into the Valley. Where people might have bought on the outskirts, they’re now being pushed further out,” she said.
“Anytime there’s a somewhat affordable house coming up for sale, it’s quickly snapped up.”
Median house prices have increased by over $200,000 in Ferntree Gully between 2016 and 2021 and almost $240,000 in Belgrave according to realestate.com.au.
Mr Taylor said that over the past 13 years that Holy Fools has been operating, more awareness of homelessness in the area has had to have been acknowledged by residents and the council.
“You would not believe how many people we talked to who didn’t even know there was homelessness in the Yarra Ranges. We need to identify our homelessness services in the area, where they are and we want to conduct a count of the homelessness in the Yarra Ranges,” he said.
“As a community, I think it’s time we started to make some radical changes and move in a direction helping people stay out of and get out of homelessness. Armed with the data, we will be in a much stronger position to be able to work from.”
