Maroondah City Council to lodge submission to Parliamentary Inquiry into Homelessness

Council has made a formal submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Homelessness, which aims to examine the extent of homelessness in Victoria and ways to provide immediate help those in need.

Council’s submission to the inquiry was endorsed at its monthly meeting on Monday 16 December 2019.

Mayor Cr Mike Symon said Council welcomed the Victorian’s Government’s inquiry as a positive step towards tackling the prevalence, scale and nature of homelessness, and for those at risk or vulnerable to homelessness.

“The inquiry is intended to shine a spotlight on homelessness in Victoria and to identify ways in which the issue can best be addressed,” Cr Symon said.

He said the plight of homelessness was a significant issue which hit close to home.

“According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, people experiencing homelessness are unevenly distributed throughout Maroondah, with Ringwood, Ringwood East and Croydon representing the highest number of people experiencing homelessness,” Cr Symon said.

Latest data by Homelessness Australia shows that 3280 people are homeless within the Eastern Metropolitan Area.

Many of them are Melbourne’s ‘hidden homeless’, people who live temporarily with others but who aren’t guaranteed permanent, private and secure housing.

Eastern Homelessness Network figures also show that more than 12,000 people sought the assistance of homelessness and crisis services in Melbourne’s east in 2017/18.

“Council’s submission notes the estimated scale of local homelessness, outlines some of the local initiatives aimed at responding to homelessness and presents a number of recommendations for the consideration of the inquiry,” Cr Symon said.

As part of its submission to the inquiry, Council makes three key recommendations:

The Victorian Government more actively promote the range of initiatives and key roles that Local Government authorities can play in responding to the needs of people experiencing homelessness. The Victorian Government should provide resources and guidance to assist Councils in effectively responding to municipal homelessness issues. The Victorian Government promotes the development of a Protocol Sleeping Rough in Public Places to Local Government authorities, including a better practice guide.

Cr Symon said changes in the housing market and an increased demand for affordable housing in Maroondah were two key issues impacting the local community.

“Last year, Council adopted its Affordable and Social Housing Policy aimed at helping to address affordable and social housing issues in the municipality.

“In preparing this document, Council found that the increasing price of private rental is a key contributing factor that has led to an increase in homelessness in suburbs such as Ringwood and Croydon,” he said.

“The accessibility of public housing is also a significant issue for Maroondah, due to the uneven distribution of both state-owned public housing and community housing across the metropolitan area.”

Latest Census data reveals that almost 4500 low-income households (or 10%) of all households in Maroondah were experiencing housing stress, with more than half of these defined as being in severe housing stress – paying more than 50% of their income to rent.

Maroondah City Council facilitates the Maroondah Emergency Relief Network – a group of agencies who play a direct role in supporting those who are experiencing disadvantage, homelessness or at risk of homelessness.

It is also a member of the Eastern Affordable Housing Alliance (EAHA) – comprising six of the eastern metropolitan region councils – which advocates for increased housing affordability in the region.

The inquiry into homelessness in Victoria is being conducted by the Legislative Assembly Legal and Social Issues Committee of the Parliament of Victoria.

“Council welcomes the opportunity to contribute a submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Homelessness and hopes the inquiry provides insight into the social, economic and policy factors that impact homelessness,” Cr Symon said.

According to the Council for Homeless Persons, Victoria’s homelessness peak body, homelessness can be caused by poverty, lack of affordable housing, poor physical or mental health, drug and alcohol abuse, gambling, family and relationship breakdown or domestic violence.

Supporting people who are sleeping rough in public spaces

In 2015, Council developed the Maroondah Protocol for Assisting People Sleeping Rough in Public Spaces.

The Protocol aims to assist people sleeping rough to receive services if they need or request them, and provides Council and its employees with a framework for responding to instances of people sleeping rough within the municipality.

The Protocol also aims to ensure people experiencing homelessness are treated respectfully and appropriately and are not discriminated against on the basis of their situation.

Where can people seek assistance?

If you or someone you know is experiencing or at risk of homelessness, or if you require information on support services available, visit Eastern Homelessness Network or call 8870 4011 or 1800 825 955.