You told us to focus on the people who most need access to safe and secure housing and to work on expanding the stock of affordable and social housing to support a broader proportion of the population over time.
These are the groups you told us to focus on:
Young people require housing and services that are focused on their long-term development. Options that build independence (such as Youth Foyers) and support transitions from out-of-home care are required throughout the state.
Older Victorians require stable, fit-for-purpose accommodation to allow for aging in place. The private rental market is insecure and unaffordable. The social and affordable housing system needs to consider accessibility.
People with disabilities require a range of social, affordable and market housing options. Specialist Disability Accommodation is important and welcome but will only account for 6% of those accessing the NDIS. Crisis accommodation and rooming houses are particularly inappropriate for people with disabilities as they do not provide specialised support and can be unsafe.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Victorians have rightfully been identified as a priority group in the Big Housing Build. However, housing targets need to be supported by culturally appropriate systems, practices and accommodation types. Submissions called for the 10-Year Strategy to build on the key objectives and priority areas outlined in the Mana-na woorn-tyeen maar-tarkoort: Every Aboriginal Person has a Home, the Victorian Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Framework.
Women urgently require housing and services. Older women, survivors of family violence, single mothers and women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are particularly vulnerable and need greater access to crisis and long-term housing.
People with mental health issues need access to appropriate and supportive housing options with wrap-around support services. This is essential as poor mental health is a risk factor for homelessness and homelessness can deteriorate a person’s mental health.
Periods of transition are critical moments and are often where people need the most support. Relationship break-downs and transitions from the justice system, out-of-home care and health facilities leave people particularly vulnerable.
Low-income and key workers require access to social housing, affordable rental and affordable homeownership options. A lack of affordable housing is detrimental to a household’s health and well-being and causes labour shortages, particularly in regional areas.
Regional Victorians urgently need more affordable housing. Regional Victoria requires investment in both transitional/crisis housing as well as long-term rental accommodation to support key workers, seasonal workers, and people experiencing homelessness.
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