Calls for more funding for Shepparton social housing

By Kayla Jones

Apr 11, 2024

Growing concerns: BeyondHousing CEO Celia Adams has called for state funding to properly address the housing crisis in Shepparton. Photo by Max Stainkamph

BeyondHousing CEO Celia Adams has called for bold action from the Victorian Government and urged the state to prioritise homelessness in the 2024-25 budget.

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The 2021 Census data revealed 418 homeless people living in the Greater Shepparton area, a 63-person increase, or 18 per cent hike, since 2016.

Ms Adams said that investment in a dedicated, detailed strategy was crucial to properly address the region’s housing crisis.

BeyondHousing is planning about 100 new houses for Greater Shepparton by 2026.

Ms Adams said those numbers were insubstantial against the growing wait list for social housing.

There are currently 2239 people on the wait list for social housing in Greater Shepparton, with half of those classified as priority applicants including those in need of emergency housing, people experiencing homelessness and those with special housing needs, such as people with disabilities and the elderly.

“We [BeyondHousing] add to the number of social housing available, but the numbers just don’t add up,” Ms Adams said.

“There are 2000 people on the waiting list – 100 houses in two years barely touches that, which is why we’re doing the budget call to the government.

“If there are over 2000 people on the waiting list, we need at least that many homes to prevent homelessness and to prevent the crisis from worsening.

Ms Adams acknowledged the 2023 Big Housing Build, which brought 13 one-bedroom and seven two-bedroom units to Shepparton last year, as a positive step toward addressing regional housing problems but said that investments must continue.

She expressed strong support of the Council to Homeless Persons 2024-25 state budget submission and said the submission, which called for investment of over $44 billion in programs and social housing over four years, presents a roadmap to addressing the crisis.

Critical elements of the submission include a 24,000 increase in community housing stock, 5000 social properties for homeless youth and the expansion of Victoria’s Housing First program.

Other components include the growth of the private rental assistance program, the development of an Aboriginal-specific homelessness support system and the establishment of a dedicated crisis-transitional housing facility for transgender and gender-diverse Victorians.

“We are looking for more investment in regional areas. We need more recognition that the housing crisis will only worsen if there is not important investments made,” Ms Adams said.