By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
HOMELESS people are sleeping in the car park at the Cranbourne Salvation Army on a weekly basis.
Major Robert Evans said the Cranbourne Salvos were spending about $2000 a year on tents and sleeping bags for people, while volunteers often arrived in the morning to find others sleeping in their cars in the New Holland Drive car park.
And the dearth of public housing is not specific to Cranbourne, with Berwick RSL president Ray Heathcote saying he had found a greater demand this year for social housing and accommodation assistance than previously.
Echoing these sentiments, Casey councillor Amanda Stapledon raised the issue at this week’s council meeting with a recommendation being put forward to keep pushing the State and Federal governments for more social housing.
The report urged the council to “consider the gap in supply of social and affordable housing” in Casey.
Major Evans said there was next to no available emergency and commercial accommodation in Cranbourne.
“There’s no caravan parks in Cranbourne and only two motels which are way too expensive for people,” he said.
“Combine all that with a lack of low-cost housing and a lack of emergency and transitional housing … it creates a massive gap.”
Cr Stapledon said there was “absolutely nothing available” when it came to social housing in Casey.
“It’s the one thing that keeps me awake at night.”
When it comes to potential solutions to the issue, Major Evans admitted there was no easy answer.
“It’s a complicated issue, there’s not one solution in one area, but we need something that’s a better option then handing out a tent in the middle of winter.
“At the moment I’m having conversation with key community leaders within council and the church.
“It’s one thing to put our hand out to the government but we have to be more pro-active – how can we use the resources we do have.”
For assistance contact the Cranbourne Salvation Army on 5995 1433, and contact the Berwick RSL on 9796 1435.
Are you on the public housing waiting list? Is unafforable rent putting your family budget under strain? Let us know at editor@starnewsgroup.com.au
