Cade Lucas
Tiny homes built on vacant council and government owned land could be a solution to help ease Wyndham’s housing crisis.
It’s one of many ideas being canvassed during Homelessness Week 2023 which runs from August 7 to 13.
Normally the annual week long event raises awareness about the impact of homelessness, but in 2023, the combination of rising living costs, interest rate hikes and a lack of affordable housing has meant that’s not really necessary.
Instead community agencies such as Uniting Care Wyndham, are calling for action.
“We’re asking the government to recognise there’s a shortage in housing” said Deb Gorsuch, Team Leader at Uniting’s Wyndham housing office.
Ms Gorsuch said building temporary accommodation on public land had to be looked at.
“Small relocatable homes like cabins, that could be used in the interim to support people who are vulnerable.”
She also called on the Federal Government and the Greens to end their stand-off over the Housing Australia Future Fund.
“It would be great if they got together to do something, to come up with a solution.”
The need for more social housing was highlighted at the Houses at Parliament campaign event held in the lead up to Homelessness Week.
On Wednesday August 2 Deb Gorsuch and members of other community agencies across Melbourne’s north and west laid 6000 origami houses on the steps of state parliament, the same number of social housing properties they’re calling state federal authorities to build.
Ms Gorsuch said the lack of social and affordable housing was particular evident in Wyndham and the outer west.
“They’re growth corridors and there’s a really high need for long-term affordable housing in Wyndham.
There’s no crisis accommodation in Wyndham other than the use of hotels.”
She said the lack of housing corresponded with a demand for camping gear.
‘We’ve got a lot of rough sleepers at the moment who are coming into the agency seeking tents, coats, sleeping-bags, whatever can help.”
Ms Gorsuch said Wyndham’s demographics also made it vulnerable, with rising rents affecting singles in the area, while its cultural diversity meant there were many large families they were unable to help.
“We have families that need more than four bedrooms and there’s no stock in Wyndham not even in private rentals for places with four, five or six bedrooms.”
Details: www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/homelessness-week
