By Alesha Capone
A not-for-profit support service based in Werribee has helped more than 1000 people to maintain or secure long-term housing within the last two financial years.
Uniting Wyndham’s housing team leader Deborah Gorsuch said that in 2020-21, her team assisted 459 residents who were sleeping rough or at risk of becoming homeless.
Ms Gorsuch said that in 2019-20 financial year, Uniting Wyndham aided 560 people – a mixture of families, youths and singles – who fell into these two categories.
“Every day we see people who are desperate to put food on the table, get a job, get help with their alcohol and drug addiction, mental health or escape family violence,” Ms Gorsuch said.
“If you’re single and on JobSeeker, you can’t afford private rent with the average rent in Wyndham around $300 a week, so people often sleep rough.”
Ms Gorsuch said it was also tough for families with four or more children to find rental housing in Wyndham, even if one of the parents was employed and had a good rental history.
“Sometimes landlords think they may get a bit of damage to a property if they lease it to a large family,” she said.
Ms Gorsuch said there were few social and public housing properties in Wyndham that have five bedrooms or more.
“Even by the time housing comes up, it might be four or five years down the track,” Ms Gorsuch said.
Uniting Vic.Tas is part of the Everybody’s Home campaign, which is calling on the state and federal governments to deliver a better, fairer housing system.
Details: www.everybodyshome.com.au
