Homelessness
Will FOWLES (Ringwood) (14:26): My question is to the Premier and relates to crisis accommodation services, not housing. The latest national data from the Council to Homeless Persons shows more than 105,000 Victorians sought homelessness assistance last financial year. Victoria now accounts for 36 per cent of all homelessness presentations nationally. Rough sleeping has risen to more than 10,600 people. Women now make up nearly 60 per cent of all presentations, and family violence has pushed more than 32,000 people into homelessness. Critically, the report shows that crisis services could provide short-term accommodation to 22,000 people, yet another 9766 Victorians who asked for a crisis bed missed out. Premier why were nearly 10,000 Victorians who sought crisis accommodation last year unable to receive it?
Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:27): I thank the member for Ringwood for his question. He raises one of the very real and challenging consequences of there not being enough homes being built either here in Victoria or indeed around the nation and also some of the real complexities that a number of people in our community are experiencing that lead them to being in the most vulnerable position when they become homeless. It is why we continue to invest in homelessness services directly and why we need to continue to build more homes, particularly through the $6.3 billion that we have invested in directly building more homes.
In addition to all the work that the planning minister has been leading in terms of working with the industry to get more homes built, the work we are doing directly is targeting people who are the most vulnerable, who need the government building them a roof over their heads. That is why there is targeted provision made for women and children experiencing family violence. It is why there is targeted provision made for women over the age of 55, who are the group that is increasing the quickest in terms of the number of people in our community who are experiencing homelessness. It is also why there is work that happens across government, particularly with people who are experiencing addiction and who also suffer from mental illness, in terms of providing them with both a roof over their head but also wraparound services. It is why the work we do in not only building homes but also working with community housing providers is so critically important. Where we can partner with community housing providers, like we are doing at an increasing rate, they can provide those additional wraparound services –
Will Fowles: Speaker, my point of order is on relevance. The question was not about wraparound services or the provision of housing, it was just about crisis accommodation and the one-third of people who presented without being able to access it.
The SPEAKER: I do not uphold the point of order. The Premier was being relevant to the question.
Jacinta ALLAN: That is why we will continue to build more homes and work with the private sector to get more homes built across the board, because we know that provides more opportunities for everyone in our community, and we will continue to invest too in those people who are the most vulnerable in our community. If I can say, this is why we are doing the work to ensure that we remain laser focused on these frontline services and ensuring that the work of the public service is focused on providing frontline services like these ones to people who need their government focused on them and providing support for those most vulnerable in our community.
Will FOWLES (Ringwood) (14:31): The government’s own department says every person deserves a safe home. With one-third of people presenting for crisis accommodation being turned away, what does the government consider an acceptable turn-away rate for crisis accommodation?
Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:31): I appreciate the member for Ringwood is focused on ensuring that those most vulnerable in our community are supported, but I think it would be wrong to contextualise it that there would be in any way an acceptable rate. I would disagree with the way he has framed the question, because I think it does a great injustice to those in our community who work so hard every single day – the frontline workers who work in crisis accommodation – remembering too that they are working with people who are not just experiencing homelessness or housing vulnerability but often fleeing family violence. They may have mental health or alcohol and substance abuse challenges. They deserve our support and care, and that is why we will continue to invest in these vital services for vulnerable Victorians.