Did you know that Public Housing is excelling at protecting tenants during the Covid 19 crisis. All public tenants laid off work due to Corona Virus, have had their rents automatically reduced to 25% of their income.
No other Housing Model has these protections embedded, as a right, within their structure. This is why the government has had to act to temporarily prohibit evictions during the crisis, to stave off a further catastrophic spike in housing insecurity and homelessness.
Only a ridiculous and miserable 2.7 percent of all housing in Victoria is Public Housing.
And even that pathetic amount is in danger of being swallowed up. Privatisation by stealth under the guise of 'Social Housing'.
We need a lot more well-managed Public Housing to meet the current needs
and to reach a broader demographic.
So keep watching this space, and following our blog.
Help us to defend and extend this essential public asset!
Liz Aird.
Good on you Liz! ๐Another great submission to the Upper House Inquiry into Homelessness. If I can make a comment re 'community groups' we are talking of major corporations here. ( Community Housing Associations aka Social Housing).
Submission by Liz Aird. Submission 243
"Public housing is essential to prevent homelessness. It caters for a basic need and gives dignity.The state government needs to once again take responsibility for public housing rather than pass on the responsibility to community groups.
It was a basic component of infrastructure provided by the ALP, this seems to now be
unpalatable. Is it the modern face of neo-liberalism?
Labor needs to take back the mantle of caring for those who need this infrastructure.
The redevelopment of public housing estates has basic flaws. Firstly, they are creating ghettos. Secondly, it is disproportionately pandering to the developers. Why is the increase in public dwellings so small? In Carlton the increase was about 50 for public flats compared with 800 for the private sector. This is manifestly wrong. The government needs to commit substantial funds to meet the ever growing waiting list needs. This problem is now gaining the attention of the community and it is time an ALP government stepped up to the plate after twenty years of inadequate funding for this vital area which can prevent homelessness.
Inquiries in domestic violence and mental health only serve to underline the need for public housing.
No mealy mouthed statements about how the state doesn't do it well, actually address the issue. Oswald Barnett knew how to do it and we can now resurrect his legacy."
--------------------------------------
John Sharpe - Submission 15 ๐
"I have worked with a high exposure to the general community through Christian Ministry
and Student welfare in education for approx 40 years.
The key issue I see now is the simple lack of adequate public housing .
Short term emergency housing is rare enough but it does not solve the chronic lack of
housing stock."
---------------------------------------------
Igor Rogov. Submission 22 ๐
"I've lived in USSR where after collapse of the system, the whole homelessness appeared.
It is weird and spooky to see Australia sliding backwards into the same problem."
-------------------------------------------
Here's a submission which painfully describes the misery of living in insecure private rental accommodation.
Jude Power. Submission 39 ✊
"The epidemic of AirB&B's in many areas is swallowing up former low rental homes.
I am a 72 year old disability pensioner in private rental, which I can just afford with erratic
casual work, which of course is not possible for many people in my situation.
I've lived here for nearly 10 years but still dread every lease renewal date and am certain
my lease will not be renewed next year, as I am taking the owner to VCAT because of
longstanding necessary repairs,some from a kitchen fire over a year ago and others
which threaten my physical safety.
The agents consistently recommend to him that he not give me more than one year at a time,
presumably because they want their annual lease renewal fee.
If my lease is not renewed I face homelessness:there are very few affordable rentals
in my area and I doubt if I would be given priority by agents/owners, in spite of my perfect
rental record in the area going back more than 15 years.
I have applied for public housing on a priority basis but doubt very much if that will be
approved in time. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD STOP SELLING OFF PUBLIC HOUSING AND INCREASE IT SUBSTANTIALLY. "
-------------------------------
Sources
1.Report into PHRP Upper House Inquiry 2018. p25
re percentage of Public Housing in Victoria.
2. https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/lsic-lc/inquiries/article/4283
yes, all the posts here ring true. no matter which way you look at it there is a massive shortage of public housing residences, made worse each year. Spring St is not listening and has not listened for such a long time. we need a lot more public housing no matter how you look at it.
ReplyDelete