By Cam Lacadou-Wells and Brendan Rees
Casey’s growing tide of homelessness has swelled well over 1000, according to the latest statistics.
There were about 1280 homeless in the municipality in the 2016 official Census period – up by 33 per cent from 2011 figures.
It soared by double the rate of Casey’s population, while at the same time Victoria’s homelessness rate remained steady.
Leanne Petrides, who runs Cranbourne Community Information and Support Service (CCISS), said the 1280 figure was almost certainly an under-estimation.
“While there was quite assertive outreach at census time, I can guarantee that there would be many people who were homeless on the night but were not counted despite best efforts.
“The homelessness issue is a real problem, and certainly growing in our community.”
A massive boost to public and social housing was needed for hundreds of people without a home in Casey, she said.
“We just find so many people who literally on the brink of losing their accommodation.”
“They do everything in their power to keep that roof over their head even if that is costing 70 per cent of their income every fortnight,” she said.
Ms Petrides welcomed City of Casey’s pro-activeness, including the establishment of a Casey-Cardinia homelessness leadership group in February.
The group includes service providers, charities, housing agencies, Victoria Police, Monash Health, Eastern Region Mental Health Association and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Casey’s connected communities manager Jo Smale said a collaborative strategic approach was important in response to the “emerging housing crisis”.
Since hosting a housing summit in October, Casey Council is applying for a grant for a social and affordable housing strategy and has developed a rooming-house planning policy.
It is also investigating how to provide for affordable housing in the planning scheme.
Ms Petrides added many people were forced to live in rooming houses, which was still eating most of their income, adding they were “often over-crowded and potentially dangerous.”
“We would love for them to be able be actually get housing as opposed to just being a sleeping bag that we give them. And that number has certainly risen over time,” she said.
Cranbourne Salvation Army’s Support Services manager Kelly Jose said they were under the pump, with a number of people sleeping outside the building.
“The other morning there was two but there have been cases where there have been five or six around the building, not necessarily in a car because some don’t have cars unfortunately,” she said.
“We’ve got tents and sleeping bags here but unfortunately that’s all we can offer in the respect.”
Ms Jose said they assisted more than 100 people per week seeking breakfast and lunch.
“Most people come in here for food because their mortgages are just too high or all the other bills as well.
“We’ve had a lot of people come in for blankets,” she said.
“Food is probably at the end of the list for a lot of families unfortunately.”
