RETIREES are being forced to sleep in cars or in the back of vans in local car parks as the Bass Coast housing crisis deepens.
Community groups gathered at Apex Park in Wonthaggi for Homelessness Week were told one in three local retirees have a mortgage on their home and one in ten rent.
According to community housing advocacy group Housing Matters auspiced by Wonthaggi Neighbourhood Centre pensioners and retirees are among the worst affected by the current housing crisis.
Bass Coast Shire Cr Mat Morgan said housing investment models have failed.
“Young people can’t get a house and retired people live in cars,” said Cr Morgan.
Housing Matters Jesicca Harrison said there is a desperate need for more public housing in Bass Coast.
More and more people on pensions are being evicted according to Ms Harrison.
“Pensioners can’t cover the rent, or their mortgage repayments.”
A lot of people in Wonthaggi are living in cars according to Ms Harrison including women and children, and people who only get occasional work.
“People are living in the bush, through no fault of their own.”
An overnight winter shelter for ten guests at a time in Cowes offers an evening meal, bed and breakfast and crisis accommodation for people aged over 25 three nights a week.
For an assessment for the Bass Coast Winter Shelter contact the Salvation Army Gippsland Homelessness Service, Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm on 5667 5220.
Food parcels are available on Wednesdays and Fridays at 11am at the rear of the Anglican Church in McBride Avenue, the Wonthaggi Owl Ute provides food, toiletries and essentials from 1pm to 2pm at the Wonthaggi RSL in Graham Street, the Wonthaggi Neighbourhood Centre has some frozen meals and hosts a community lunch on Wednesdays at 12.30pm outside school holidays, and the YES Youth Hub in Watt Street provides free access to pantry, laundry and shower facilities for young people.
