Western suburbs families and single people on public housing waiting lists are living without basic services and using up to 80 per cent of their benefits to pay for private rentals, according to a welfare agency.
Werribee Support and Housing chief executive Carol Muir said people in crisis on a high-priority list were facing a five-year wait for public housing and some of those on the general list were being advised they might never get an offer.
“We have come across, in our crisis program, people who are living without water, gas and electricity,” she said.
‘‘Once a week, we come across people living in these conditions.”
“We are hearing of people who are using 50 to 80 per cent of their benefits to pay for private rentals.
The public housing waiting list at the Department of Human Services’ Footscray office increased by 42 people in the past six months.
In December, there were 1077 people on the Footscray office’s waiting list, covering Altona, Altona Meadows, Altona North, Brooklyn, Footscray, Laverton, Newport, Seddon, Spotswood, Williamstown and Yarraville.
Department of Human Services (DHS) data reveals that as at the end of June, there were 1119 people on the Footscray waiting list, with 221 people waiting for a transfer to another property. DHS spokeswoman Ruth Ward said that while the Footscray waiting list had decreased by three people between March and June, many more might have found public housing in that period.
“To suggest only three people in the Footscray office area had been housed over the last quarter would be incorrect,” she said.
“The department offers assistance for those who want to rent privately and are unable to pay the bond themselves.
‘‘This is a bond loan scheme and is available for eligible participants.
“Crisis and emergency accommodation options are also available for those who are escaping family violence or at risk of homelessness.”
Williamstown MP Wade Noonan challenged the government to reveal in which suburbs it had increased housing stock.
“Sadly, our office is regularly contacted by many vulnerable people who are looking for secure housing and the most common response that comes from government is that they are providing the housing,” he said.
There are 1368 public housing dwellings in Hobsons Bay and 2459 in Maribyrnong.
