Salvation Army social justice worker Judith Sutcliffe registered for Monday’s community forum in the hope the state government would help her to help families in need.
She told Premier Denis Napthine and Housing Minister Wendy Lovell that Wyndham had a major social welfare problem.
Ms Sutcliffe said 33 per cent of households were experiencing mortgage stress, while 90 families a month were being evicted from their houses because they were behind on their mortgage or rent. “We have to turn away 17 to 20 families a week at the food service,” she said. “I had a mother with two kids come to me who [was facing eviction] because she is behind in her rent. There is no crisis accommodation in Wyndham.”
Ms Sutcliffe asked Ms Lovell why a crisis accommodation plan presented to the government last year by Wyndham council and welfare organisations had not received funding.
Ms Lovell said she was aware of the proposal, but the government didn’t have the money to fund crisis accommodation in Wyndham. “We do have limited resources. We have to make sure we help those most in need.”
COMMUNITY CABINET: OUR COVERAGE
