Homeless exit plan

By Casey Neill
KNOX and Yarra Ranges councillors are calling for a greater government investment in social and affordable housing.
Knox Council recently approved a submission to the Federal Government green paper Which Way Home? – A New Approach to Homelessness.
The submission called on the Federal Government to increase funding to the State Government to implement the Victorian Affordable Housing Growth Strategy, which would deliver affordable housing initiatives.
“If the Commonwealth agrees to that, an increase in the supply of housing will allow ‘exit’ points for homeless people to get out of crisis accommodation,” Knox councillor Mick Van de Vreede said.
Cr Van de Vreede said the Rudd Government needed to work in partnership with state and local governments to allow integration between national, state and local housing policy.
“We need more cooperative gestures towards a truly national approach to address this crisis in social and affordable housing,” he said.
The Knox Affordable Housing Reference Group prepared the discussion paper submission which included a recommendation for uniform legislation requiring developers to set aside homes for affordable housing and a national affordable housing plan and agreement.
“Knox City Council advocates that social and affordable housing is at such a crisis point that the issue needs greater investment lead by the Commonwealth Government,” the submission read.
The green paper will be used to develop a white paper to inform a national plan on homelessness.
Melbourne 2030, the city’s planning document, defines affordable housing as homes with mortgage or rent payments no more than 30 per cent of that household’s net income.
Social housing is non-profit housing that is generally government owned.
Shire of Yarra Ranges councillors moved to fight the lack of affordable housing head on at its 10 June council meeting.
Ryrie Ward councillor Jeanette McRae said housing affordability was a major issue for low to middle income households in both rental and home ownership markets.
“Affordability is most severe in the private rental market where one in four low income private renters pay more than 30 per cent of their income on rent,” she said.
She said that in the past 10 years rent had increased at twice the rate of inflation, the proportion of low rent homes had fallen by about 15 per cent and opportunities to rent public housing had dropped by about 20 per cent.
“These are problems that governments can address,” she said.
“To be effective, these solutions need to focus on increasing the supply of affordable rental housing.”
Councillors agreed that the shire should advocate to the State Government for greater investment in public and community housing and prepare a report exploring opportunities to facilitate Habitat for Humanity Housing within the shire.