VCOSS applauds social housing ‘downpayment’ but urges more

Victoria’s peak social advocacy body has welcomed Victorian Labor’s pledge to build 1,000 new public housing units if re-elected.

The Premier, Daniel Andrews, says Labor would spend more than $200 million over three years building units in Geelong, Ballarat and suburban Melbourne.

VCOSS CEO Emma King said Victoria desperately needs more social housing.

“More than 82,000 Victorians are currently languishing on the social housing list. That includes men, women and children in rooming houses, on friend’s couches or sleeping on the street.”

“Victoria needs an ambitious and sustained social housing building blitz to provide homes to those most in need.”

“Today’s announcement is a welcome downpayment on that goal,” Ms King.

Today’s announcement of 1,000 new public housing units is fantastic.

But we need more. Much more.

Our message? Bring it on. pic.twitter.com/uQtjBKuEVs

— VCOSS (@VCOSS) October 17, 2018

VCOSS is particularly pleased 800 of the units will be one or two bedroom.

“The highest demand for social housing is for single-person households,” Ms King said.

“These people are currently stuck on the waiting list because of an acute shortage of suitable units.”

While welcoming today’s announcement, Ms King stressed there was more to do.

“What Victoria needs is a pipeline of social housing construction projects, delivering many thousands of new properties over the coming years,” she said.

“We look forward to welcoming more positive announcements from all sides of politics between now and November 24.”

Last week VCOSS signed The Whittlesea Declaration, urging the construction of 3,000 new public and community housing properties—the equivalent of a new Whittlesea township—annually for the next decade.

Other signatories included the Council to Homeless Persons, the Community Housing Industry Association Victoria, the Victorian Public Tenants Association, Tenants Victoria, Domestic Violence Victoria and Justice Connect.