SOCIAL services groups have joined forces with Wyndham Council to plug the gap left by stagnant public housing levels.
Wyndham Council is developing a strategy to address the rental affordability crisis gripping the city, in consultation with housing associations, support services and developers.
As reported by the Weekly, the state government has admitted that Wyndham’s public housing stock has not risen since 2010, despite the addition of 530 new dwellings across the north-west. Social workers estimated one in four of the 3688 people languishing on the Sunshine public housing waiting list were from Wyndham.
Council chief executive Kerry Thompson said housing affordability was a key challenge.
“Housing services, including crisis accommodation, are in record demand in Wyndham. An alliance has been established between Wyndham City, Werribee Support and Housing, Yarra Housing, Western Health and the Salvation Army to advocate for and promote crisis accommodation in the municipality,” she said.
Ms Thompson said details on the strategy’s recommendations were still being finalised, but hoped to present the plan to the new council following next month’s election.
Yarra Community Housing western manager Brett Bedson said the lack of any locally provided crisis accommodation in Wyndham was a serious problem, particularly as population growth had outstripped public housing supply.
He said a rising number of rooming houses in Wyndham painted a grim picture of people being squeezed out of the rental market.
“Short-term assistance for people to allow them time to recover from hardship is not available in Wyndham.
“There are no crisis facilities available and people will resort to any accommodation that is available rather than leave their limited supports in the local community.”
