By Brendan Rees
The inaugural Casey Cardinia Housing Summit was held on World Homeless Day on Tuesday 10 October 2017 after figures revealed City of Casey was ranked second among 15 Melbourne suburbs where rental affordability had plummeted.
With more than 140 in attendance, there was a wide variety of speakers who presented at the summit including academic experts and service provider organisations.
City of Casey then-Mayor Cr Sam Aziz said the summit was an effective way to come together and hear about issues around housing and homelessness and how organisations could better work together in this space.
Figures from the Council for Homeless Persons showed affordable rental houses in Casey plunged from 70 per cent in 2007 to just 13 per cent a decade later.
Cranbourne Salvation Army Support Services were struggling to cope with the demand as more people sought their help.
Star News also spoke with a resident named Andrew last October who said he became homeless after being made redundant in 2014.
At the time, Andrew, who asked not to reveal his surname, said he was living in a rear shed at the Salvation Army Community Support Centre in Cranbourne.
WAYYS Cranbourne Executive Officer Leanne Petridis also said the waiting list for public housing in Casey was more than 20 years with those on the priority list waiting up to three years.
City of Casey, in partnership with the Shire of Cardinia will discuss hosting the housing summit as an annual event.
