THE latest “astounding and disgraceful” public housing data shows Mildura’s priority waiting list has increased by more than 250 per cent, according to Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell.
Ms Lovell told State Parliament this week northern Victoria’s public housing was particularly concerning when consideration was given to data on priority access, which covers people experiencing homelessness or escaping domestic violence.
She said Mildura’s general wait list had increased by 229 applications to 653, while there had been a “massive” 260 per cent increase in priority waiting list cases from 100 to 360.
“This is totally unacceptable,” Ms Lovell said.
“My area in northern Victoria is particularly suffering.
“This government is failing in social housing — people are homeless.
“These people are really struggling — they need assistance from the government, and it is time that the government started realising that they should be making it easier for Victorians, not harder for Victorians.”
Ms Lovell said the latest quarterly public housing figures were “absolutely astounding and disgraceful” and did not take into account those who might run into trouble with rental accommodation or be struggling to put a roof over their heads because of the economic recession.
She said an “urgent” and “massive” injection of funding was needed into public housing by a government that “care about themselves, and that is it”.
“I call on the Premier and the Treasurer to make sure that this State Budget coming up has a massive injection for public housing, right across the state but particularly in my area in northern Victoria, where so many people are suffering because this government just does not care about those who are less fortunate than themselves.”
