East Gippsland is ranked among the 10 worst electorates in Victoria in which many people, namely women, are homeless.
New statistics released by the Council to Homeless Persons reveals East Gippsland ranks sixth in the state with 224 people homeless.
The region has 38 people out of every 10,000 homeless, which is higher than the regional Victoria rate of 27 per 10,000.
Most concerning is the revelation that 53 per cent of those homeless in East Gippsland are women.
Chief executive officer of the Council to Homeless Persons, Kate Colvin, told the Advertiser: “This data makes it clear that homelessness is not just a city problem.”
Ms Colvin says a lack of social housing is driving homelessness “in every electorate in Victoria”.
Captain David Jones, from the Salvation Army in Bairnsdale, says while he’s not surprised by the number of homeless people in East Gippsland, “I am surprised they are mostly women”.
“We’re used to seeing men sleeping on benches, but women are less visible,” Captain Jones said.
He says women are more likely to couch surf with friends or sleep in their vehicles and “wouldn’t be so obvious in the community”.
The Salvation Army presently has 75 homeless people on its book awaiting community housing.
“If you’re a single female, you’d be waiting 10 years easily,” Captain Jones told the Advertiser.
“The chances of getting a house (in this area) is extremely low.”
The Council to Homeless People says there is a shortage of affordable accommodation for single people in East Gippsland.
Ms Colvin says “rooming houses are increasingly becoming the only option for people on low incomes in Victoria’s east.”
Captain Jones says joblessness, alcohol and drug issues and family violence were usually the reasons women ended up homeless.
He says they could well be hidden from community view, “especially if they’re coming here from relationship issues from the other side of the state”.
“The stereotypes used in the past are no longer relevant, homeless people could be dressed like you or me,” Captain Jones emphasised.
The Council to Homeless Persons labelled the situation a “crisis” but insists there are solutions to overcome it.
“With the right measures in place, we know we can prevent most homelessness, quickly rehouse people who do lose their homes and keep people housed long-term,” Ms Colvin said.
“We’ve developed a blueprint for solving homelessness and now we’re looking for the political leadership to implement it.”
One measure involves providing 3000 new social housing properties each year for the next 10 years with half being one or two bedroom homes for singles, couples or small families.
The Council to Homeless Persons says a greater focus is needed on youth homelessness, which makes up 40 per cent of all homelessness in Victoria.
The State Member for East Gippsland and former shadow housing minister, Tim Bull, said it was “disappointing that Gippsland East has one of the worst homelessness rates in regional Victoria”.
“However, it is clear the problem has worsened in recent years,” Mr Bull said. “Federal Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester, says “it’s alarming that we have such a high rate of homelessness right here in East Gippsland”.
Mr Chester says while the delivery of homelessness services is primarily a state and territory responsibility, “the Federal Government supports their efforts with a $6 billion annual investment”.
This funding includes $1.5 billion through the new National Housing and Homelessness Agreement, which started in July and around $4.4 billion for Commonwealth rent assistance, which helps around 1.3 million individuals and families.
Mr Chester said he would continue to work with his state parliamentary colleagues on the issue.
