On World Homeless Day, the Mornington Peninsula Shire has worked in partnership with the Mornington Community Support Centre, Southern Peninsula Community Support and Western Port Community Support, in writing to the Premier of Victoria seeking urgent support for the housing and homeless crisis on the Mornington Peninsula.
Dear Premier
On behalf of the Mornington Peninsula Shire, Mornington Community Support Centre, Southern Peninsula Community Support, Western Port Community Support, and our entire community, I wish to express our disappointment and dismay at the continued lack of funding and support from your government to address the tragic housing and homelessness crisis on the Mornington Peninsula.
We are in desperate need of immediate funding. We require $100 million from the Victorian Government's $5.3 billion Big Housing Build to begin addressing this crisis, yet we've received just 0.1 per cent despite having one of the highest levels of housing stress in Victoria.
Here are some damning statistics:
- Right now, 1,000 people in our community are experiencing homelessness.
- We have the sixth worse area for rough sleeping in Victoria.
- There are NO funded crisis accommodation facilities on the Peninsula.
- 16 per cent of homeless residents are rough sleeping every night, many on our foreshore.
- Nearly 4,000 residents are on public housing waiting lists.
- A 31 per cent increase in rents over the past year is causing significant rental stress.
- Only three rental properties on the Mornington Peninsula were classed as affordable for low-income earners over the past year.
- There are no Government funded agencies on the Mornington Peninsula providing preventative case managed housing support to those who are at high risk of becoming homeless and facing impending homelessness
Our commitment to fix this tragedy has resulted in an extraordinary decision from Council to provide parcels of land in Hastings, Mornington and Rosebud, worth millions of dollars, for infrastructure investment for social and affordable housing.
We can't fix this alone. So where is the fair and equitable investment from the Victorian Government?
We are seeking:
- a minimum of $100M committed to the Mornington Peninsula from the Big Housing Build program
- urgent investment in social and affordable housing and homelessness support services to meet the growing demand needs
- urgent support for crisis accommodation on the Peninsula
- contribution to funding for our Community Support Centres who receive little, and in some cases no State Government funding
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council is ready to partner with the State as part of our social and affordable housing commitment in a three-way partnership with the Victorian Government and Registered Housing Agencies.
We are desperately seeking our fair share of funding. Please don't abandon our community at this critical time.
Mayor, Cr Anthony Marsh, Mornington Peninsula Shire
Ben Smith , CEO Mornington Community Support Centre
Jeremy Maxwell, CEO Southern Peninsula Community Support
Georgia Hourn, Executive Officer Western Port Community Support
