Quantum calls for funding
Pressures affecting Gippslanders have been highlighted by Quantum Support Services in a bid for much needed funding.
Quantum chief executive Natalie McDonald said a sustainable funding stream was needed for social and affordable housing, with demand and waiting lists continuing to grow.
The need for housing support in Gippsland has been growing since the pandemic, and many support services are unable to keep up.
From July 1 extra funding allocated by the Victorian Government to the Housing Establishment Fund, a fund that allows agencies to place clients in temporary hotel accommodation, will revert to pre-pandemic levels.
But this does not mean the issues spurred on by the pandemic such as housing shortages, homelessness, the high cost of living, and unemployment have been eased.
According to Ms McDonald, things are worse than ever for many living in the region, and without extra funding and support the pressure will only continue.
"Housing options are just no longer as readily available or affordable as they were pre-2020 and we predict that this is going to continue to worsen," she said.
"As a rural community, we also have less resources and housing options in general."
"Post COVID, the changing rental landscape accompanied by no movement in Centrelink benefits will mean that we will have very minimal options available. Our present exit options are extremely limited and are worsening on a daily basis."
She said that at the moment, Quantum was aware of 17 families living in motels across Baw Baw and Latrobe council areas, including 50 children and two pregnant women.
"In addition to those shocking figures, we have also provided support to more than 297 single adults, couples and families who have presented as experiencing homelessness in the past 12 months," Ms McDonald said.
The past three years have seen significant increases in those seeking help from Quantum, something Ms McDonald said has been an issue for support services across the region.
"It's extremely difficult at the moment. We actually have 70 clients on waiting lists... we are trying to keep abreast of it. But we literally do not have enough staff to support all of the people in need at the moment," she said.
"We are really seeing the impact on people... they just can't find private rentals - it's really a struggle."
Homes Victoria's regional report, released in December last year revealed the median rent in regional Victoria was $380, having increased by 8.7 per cent in a 12-month period.
The same report found that the proportion of affordable rental lettings had decreased to only 30.4 per cent.
In Warragul, the price for a two-bedroom flat was $320, 12.3 per cent more compared to the year prior.
Ms McDonald said the government-funded From Homelessness to a Home (H2H) program in 2021 helped place people in homes during the pandemic. However, there was still a lot more to do.
She said being able to access good cooking facilities, having a safe place for their families, and stability in where their children go to school can be a great help.
"Their costs will stabilise because when they are in motels etcetera, they are having to use external laundries... and that's just in terms of the housing," she said.
Other benefits include improvements in people's mental health, their ability to find a job, and create community friendships and associations. If sustainable funding was provided Quantum would look to increase services in areas like case management and support, and look at more social housing, and social housing alternatives.
Quantum is working on a Youth Foyer program, which works with people aged 16 to 24 to break the cycle of homelessness by providing accommodation, support, and services.
Ms McDonald said the region's issues were not going to go away. People are continuing to move into the region and although young people might move away, they will be doing so without the skills they need to support themselves.
She said sustainable funding would not entirely solve the issues at hand but they could contribute greatly. "An increase in support services funding would help to meet demand and enable us to provide early intervention," she said.