A HOUSING affordability crisis is forcing western suburbs residents deeper into poverty and a greater risk of homelessness, according to a Footscray welfare service.
A steep rise in rental costs and spiralling utilities prices are pushing already over-stretched welfare agencies to breaking point.
Wesley Mission crisis and homelessness services manager Janene Evans said the Footscray service had experienced a big increase in the number of people seeking help – now more than 8000 per year, up 30 per cent on last year.
Wesley Mission provides basic food items and shower facilities for people experiencing homelessness or who can’t afford utilities.
Ms Evans said it was important people at risk of homelessness spoke to a service before they fell out of the housing market. The affordability crisis is being felt nationwide, with peak housing bodies and leading welfare agencies calling on all political parties to make housing a top priority issue at the coming federal election.
Australian Council of Social Service deputy chief executive Tessa Boyd-Caine said priorities included lifting rent assistance and boosting funding for homelessness services.
“Another urgent priority is to increase Newstart which has failed to keep up with community living standards.”
Acting Victorian Council of Social Service chief executive Carolyn Atkins wants a stronger focus on early intervention to ensure people get support before hardship hits.
“The long-term lack of investment in community and social infrastructure means that organisations already operating above capacity are left to fill the service gaps.”
