Despite the best efforts of the Labor Government’s marketing team, the “big build” has hardly contributed to better outcomes for regional communities and families.
As of March 2023, the Victorian Housing Register shows that nearly 67,000 Victorians are on the public housing waitlist, an increase of close to 4000 people over the previous 12 months.
Nationals Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland said that regional areas were suffering, with shortages in housing supply preventing locals from getting access to much-needed housing options.
“Right across the region in the Euroa electorate we have waitlists for housing completely out of control,” Ms Cleeland said.
“There are hundreds of people urgently waiting for housing in towns right across our region, including Seymour, Benalla and the Broadford district.
“I am regularly contacted by people who are in desperate need of housing, and they are continually being told there is simply no supply to house them.”
With National Homelessness Week just concluding, Ms Cleeland said more needs to be done to support the region’s most vulnerable people.
“Stable housing is essential to helping those in need get back on their feet but under the Andrews Labor Government things are getting worse, not better,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Despite claims of record investments, public housing stock remains stagnant as more and more vulnerable Victorians are added to the waiting list each week.
“Vulnerable Victorians deserve better than a tired government that only delivers longer waiting lists, longer waiting times and a no significant increase in number of suitable new homes.”
The shortages in public housing are having a significant impact when accompanied with the current cost of living crisis.
Residents are already struggling with out-of-control rental increases, shocking house prices, soaring utility bills, exponentially rising interest rates, and an ever-growing cost for their groceries and day-to-day items.
Stable housing is essential to helping those in need get back on their feet, but under the Andrews Labor Government things are getting worse, not better.
