Victorians back significant social housing push Housing and Homelessness

Victorians back significant social housing push

The Housing Peaks Alliance logos: Aboriginal Housing Victoria, the Community Housing Industry Association (Victoria), the Council to Homeless Persons, Domestic Violence Victoria, Justice Connect, Tenants Victoria, the Victorian Public Tenants’ Association and the Victorian Council of Social Service.

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

 

More than three quarters of Victorians want the State Government to “build significantly more public and community housing” as part of its response to COVID-19.

According to a new Essential Poll conducted exclusively on the eve of National Homelessness Week, support for more social housing was rock solid in all demographics, regions and age groups, and right across the political divide.

This includes support for more social housing from:

  • 77% of all voters
  • 84% of Labor voters and 78% of Coalition voters.
  • 76% of women and 78% of men.
  • 77% of Melbourne residents and 79% of people in country Victoria.

Support to build more homes for people on low-incomes and those who are homeless was also consistently strong amongst workers, retirees, parents and those without kids.

And whopping 83% of Victorians believe the Victorian Government should be doing more to end homelessness, in the poll conducted on behalf of Victoria’s leading housing and social advocacy groups.

 

Should the Victorian Government “build significantly more public and community housing” as part of the response to COVID-19?

The Victorian Council of Social Service CEO Emma King said:

“The Victorian people are speaking with one voice here. They want the Victorian Government to build more public and community housing.”

“People want a Big Build to End Homelessness.”

The Community Housing Industry Association Victoria’s CEO Lesley Dredge agreed, saying:

“This issue is above politics. Everybody needs a home.”

“The message is clear: let’s get building.”

Victoria has lowest proportion of social housing in Australia. About 25,000 people are homeless on any given night, and more than 100,000 people are stuck on the state’s housing wait list.

Modelling done before COVID-19 found Victoria needs to build at least 6,000 new public and community housing properties each year for a decade. It called for state and federal governments to work together to address the shortfall.

The Essential Poll of 503 Victorians was conducted from July 23rd to 26th and was commissioned by the Victorian Housing Peaks Alliance.

Download data tables
  • For more information or to arrange an interview contact Ryan Sheales on 0418 127 153 or via email.
  • If you need a photo of Ms King or information about case studies, please refer to our Media Enquiries section.

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