$3.6m more for social housing in Bass Coast

MINISTER for Housing Danny Pearson has announced $35 million in grants from the Social Housing Growth Fund to build social housing across Gippsland with $3.6 million of that for Bass Coast.

The grant will build up to 18 houses, providing social and affordable housing.

But at the same time as Minister Pearson was throwing more money at the problem, his opposite number, the Shadow Minister for Housing, Richard Riordan was calling on the government to say how many people they've provided with housing, not simply focusing on the money.  

The new funding, announced by Minister Pearson, will be provided to Community Housing Limited, Housing Choices Australia Limited and the Haven Foundation.

The investment in Bass Coast Shire, Shire of Baw Baw and Latrobe City Council is part of the Government’s $219 million in grants through the Social Housing Growth Fund. 

Seventeen community housing agencies will receive funding for planning and construction of 46 projects that will deliver up to 683 homes across regional Victoria.

The project sites have been chosen because they have the most critical demand and are close to services residents will need.

The funding is part of the landmark $5.3 billion Big Housing Build.

The new homes will be allocated to people who have applied for housing through the Victorian Housing Register. 

Projects will be commencing throughout 2023, as planning and other approvals are obtained.

How many houses, not how much money, they say

But, seven weeks out from a State election, there’s a difference of opinion from the Shadow Minister for Housing, Richard Riordan, on behalf of the Liberal-National coalition about how well the state government has been handling Victoria’s housing crisis.

In a statement labelled “Empty Regional Housing Promises - Only a roof will do”, Mr Riordan says the government should be judged on how many people they’ve housed rather than how much money they’ve thrown at it.

The Andrews Government’s regurgitated commitment of 683 homes in regional Victoria is too little too late, he said in a statement on Tuesday, October 5.

“Community support groups, advocates and the social housing sector are flying blind on the sky rocketing needs of Victoria’s most vulnerable. More than 4000 families were added to the priority housing register in the past 12 months according to most recent data.

“In eight years, 26,247, or a staggering 20 families a day, have been added to our urgent housing waiting lists across the state.

“The Andrews Government must start measuring its success not in the money it wishes to throw at a problem, instead at how it is solving the problem.

“Minister Pearson, said Mr Riordan, must come clean today on what the actual figures are in the September quarter priority housing waiting lists.

“Last week, the Federal Government’s Productivity Commission made two damning reveals on the horror of the homeless waiting list in Victoria, with families now waiting on average more than 16 months for suitable housing.”

Mr Riordan claimed only the Liberals and Nationals would deliver real solutions to the housing crisis.

“Danny Pearson must come clean on the ballooning housing crisis,” the Shadow Housing Minister said.

“When will the true extent of eight years of mismanagement be revealed?

“The Labor Andrews Government has proven over eight years it has no capacity to solve the housing crisis in regional Victoria and an announcement of 683 homes will not put a scuff mark on the priority waiting list.

“A Liberal Government would immediately move to fast-track land and partnerships with Housing Associations, not for profits and the superannuation industry to get the homes built that Victorians need.”

So, there’s a fight raging between the parties about how to tackle the housing crisis but what the community wants to see is more of those in desperate need of housing to get a roof over their heads as a matter of urgency.