News
24th January 2019 680 NEW RENTAL PROPERTIES THROUGH NEW RENTAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
by Victorian Government
Acting Minister for Housing, Lily D’Ambrosio has announced that 680 new rental properties would be the first project delivered as part of the $1 billion Social Housing Growth Fund – which will add at least 2,200 new social housing properties across the State over the next five years.
Under the Fund’s New Rental Development Program, 680 rental properties will be leased from the private sector by experienced housing agencies this year, to increase the availability of social housing rental stock and facilitate investment in new social housing for the rental market.
Common Equity Housing, Haven Home Safe, Housing Choices and Housing First have been chosen as the successful agencies that will deliver the first round of the New Rentals Development Project.
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24th January 2019 SECTOR SLAMS SOCIAL HOUSING SPENDING AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT
by Pro Bono
Victoria spends less than any other state in Australia on social housing, new research shows, with the community housing sector labelling the figures a “damning insight” into years of neglect on the issue from both state and federal governments. On Tuesday, the Australian Productivity Commission released the Report on Government Spending (RoGS), with key findings revealing Victoria spent just $530 million on social housing, behind New South Wales ($1.37 billion), Queensland ($629 million) and Western Australia ($829 million). Taking population growth into account, Victoria’s spend per person on social housing was $82.94 in 2017-18, compared to the national average of $166.93.
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5th November 2018 SAVER PLUS
by The Smith Family
Saver Plus, delivered locally by The Smith Family, is Australia’s largest and longest running matched savings and financial education program. The program assists individuals and families earning lower incomes to build assets and improve their financial capability. Saver plus has developed a lasting savings habit in thousands of households throughout Australia. Participants of the program could receive up to $500 in matched savings to help pay for education costs. Enquiries: Please direct all enquiries to John Davis, Saver Plus on 9312 0932 or john.davis@thesmithfamily.com.au
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5th November 2018 IDEAS OF HOME AND OWNERSHIP IN AUSTRALIA MIGHT EXPLAIN THE NEGLECT OF RENTERS’ RIGHTS
by Bronwyn Bate in The Conversation
The “Great Australian Dream” is based on the belief that hard work will eventually lead to home ownership. Yet owning a home is becoming impossible for many people, irrespective of how hard they work.
If we understand home to be a basic right, then we will have policies that reflect this. If we understand home to be a privilege, reserved only for those who manage to achieve home ownership, then we will forever live in a country where tenure security and a feeling of being “home” are reserved for those who are able to buy a house. Consequently, our policies will continue to support the idea that, ultimately, a rental property cannot be “home” to a tenant.
The question then remains: do we consider home a right or a privilege? This issue is at the very heart of Australia’s housing crisis. Until we change our meaning of home by separating it from ownership, we will never be able to “fix” Australia’s housing crisis. See the full article in The Conversation.
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5th November 2018 TO MAKE HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE THIS IS WHAT STATE GOVERNMENTS NEED TO DO
by John Daley, Brendan Coates and Tony Chen in The Conversation
Home ownership rates are declining across Australia, especially among the young and the poor. An increasing proportion of low-income earners are in rental stress in all states except Queensland and Tasmania. Australia’s population is growing rapidly. Our cities have not kept up, so there is less housing per person. The primary obstacle appears to be planning rules that delay or prevent development.All states except Tasmania have less housing per person than a decade ago. What should Governments do? - enable more homes to be built in inner and middle-ring suburbs of our largest cities
- reform tenancy rules
- boost the public housing supply.
Australians need to face up to a harsh truth: either people accept greater density in their suburb, or their children will not be able to buy a home. Click here to see the full article.
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5th November 2018 STAYINN COBURG: INSIDE MELBOURNE'S WORST REVIEWED HOTEL
by Rohan Smith in news.com.au
RUBBISH piles up inside rooms at a motel in Melbourne’s north and visitors rarely open their doors. When they do, they reluctantly hand over rent.
The reviews are devastatingly honest. “This place is junky city … never staying in this flea invested (sic) sh*t box they call a motel,” reviewer Kyle Windebank wrote. “Terrible place. Police there every day. Other residents all druggies. Would not stay again,” Richard Williams wrote. “If you would like to visit the worst hotel on the planet, here you are,” Michael Johnson wrote. This is the StayInn Motel in Coburg, 11km north of the Melbourne CBD. In July last year, it was the site of a shooting when an argument over money spiralled out of control. A new documentary from the team at VICE saw filmmakers spend four months at the motel exploring the reasons behind the negative reviews and the characters who call it “home” — in the truest sense of the word. Though the StayInn still functions as a commercial motel, it also functions as crisis accommodation, offering rooms to those who need it most. To watch the documentary, click here. The Stay Inn will also air on SBS VICELAND later in November. To read the full article click here.
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5th November 2018 PREPARING FOR THE CHILD AND FAMILY VIOLENCE INFORMATION SHARING SCHEMES
by Victorian Government
The Victorian Government is progressing three inter-related reforms that will be integral to keeping families and children safe: • Child Information Sharing Scheme
• Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme
• Family Violence Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management Framework (MARAM). From 27 September 2018, community services organisations are required to implement one or more of these reforms. This checklist will help organisational leaders prepare for the Information Sharing Schemes. See the attached checklist to assist agencies to prepare for the Schemes. The following resources are available on the website www.infosharing.vic.gov.au - Introduction to Info Sharing Schemes
- Record keeping tips
- Organisational readiness chart
- Tips for conversations with clients
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11th October 2018 SHADOW FEDERAL MINISTER FOR HOUSING PROMOTES INCLUSIONARY ZONING
by Western Homelessness Networker
Senator the Hon Doug Cameron, Shadow Minister for Housing, outlined yesterday Labor's housing policy for the forthcoming Federal election. Senator Cameron was speaking at a consulation on women, housing and homelessness, organised by Ged Kearney MP, Member for Cooper. Senator Cameron strongly endorsed the mandating of inclusionary zoning in new private developments, citing inclusionary zoning rates as high as 50% in London. Senator Cameron also identified that the Labor Government will be focussing on the creation of housing options for older women and for young people leaving care. He also promoted an end to negative gearing and capital gains tax, a uniform vacancy tax, improved planning arrangements, support for the bond aggregator, with the additional of payments to address the gap between the development of community housing and the rent that someone in receipt of Centrelink payments can pay. Senator Cameron also identified that, if elected, the Labor Government would re-establish the Housing Supply Council and a National homelessness peak body.
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11th October 2018 CHEAPER, FAIRER PUBLIC TRANSPORT FOR VULNERABLE VICTORIANS
by Victorian Government
The Andrews Labor Government is making it cheaper and easier for vulnerable Victorians to catch public transport, with new emergency relief tickets to be trialled for 12 months, commencing immediately.
Many vulnerable Victorians are being given fines they can’t pay and becoming unnecessarily caught up in the legal system.
The current Day Pass was not meeting the needs of disadvantaged people – particularly those experiencing complex issues that need more appointments, and more time to attend them.
Like the Day Pass, the new Weekly and Monthly Travel Passes will be valid in zones 1 and 2 and on regional town buses, and will be available for approved community organisations to buy and distribute to their clients.
The passes will also be available to schools to help them support students at risk of disengaging from education.
The Day, Weekly and Monthly Travel Passes are heavily discounted to make them more affordable to the organisations supporting vulnerable Victorians.
Schools and community organisations can apply for travel passes by emailing ticketingservices@ptv.vic.gov.au
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11th October 2018 PORTABLE LONG SERVICE LEAVE... AT LAST
by ASU and Western Homelessness Networker
Congratulations to the Australian Services Union for successfully getting portable long service leave in the community sector through Parliament. The 15 year ASU campaign culminated in the LONG SERVICE BENEFITS PORTABILITY BILL 2018 being passed in Victorian Parliament. Click 'more' for further infomration about the scheme. You can join the ASU through the following link: https://www.asu.asn.au/asujoin
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11th October 2018 CAREINMIND WELLBEING SUPPORT SERVICE
by CAREinMIND
CAREinMIND™ Wellbeing Support Service is a free phone and online counselling support service. CAREinMIND™ Wellbeing Support Service is for anyone of any age who is feeling the pressures and stresses of everyday life. - It is for people who live, work or study in northern, western and central Melbourne.
- The service is available 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
Call 1300 096 269 to speak to a counsellor. If you need more intense support click here to find more programs, in this region, available with a referral from your GP or visit the More Services page.
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11th October 2018 LEAVING CARE SUPPORT EXTENDED TO 21 FOR MANY YOUNG PEOPLE
by Victorian Government and Western Homelessness Networker
Huge congratulations to all who participated in The Home Stretch Campaign to increase the leaving care age to 21. The Andrews Labor Government has now extended supports for young people leaving care up to the age of 21.
Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos announced $11.6 million over five years to roll out Home Stretch starting in the first half of 2019, which will give young people the option of remaining with their carer until the age of 21.
The program will arm young people with the tools they need to live on their own two feet, as well as extending care allowance support to foster and kinship carers.
In addition, specialised workers will provide tailored support to young people, helping them to get jobs and access education, as well training and life coaching to help young people set goals and aspirations for their future.
Carers will also be eligible to be reimbursed for the costs of caring for the young person. Young people leaving residential care will be eligible for support with housing costs.
This investment means 250 more young care leavers will receive these supports as a matter of course.
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11th October 2018 RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES AMENDMENT BILL PASSES
by Western Homelessness Networker
Victorian Parliament has passed the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill, improving the legislative rights of Victorian tenants. Reforms outlined in the Amendment Bill will be implemented in a staged way over the next few years. The major reforms are: - No-Reason notices to vacate will be gone
- A suite of protections for victim-survivors of family violence
- A “reasonableness test” for all evictions - Stronger protections against eviction for late payment
- Minimum standards for rental properties
- Centrepay must be accepted by landlords
- VCAT can refer a tenant to a financial counsellor
- VCAT may dismiss an eviction if the tenant has a need for social support or alternative accommodation
- Free access to see if you’re on a residential tenancy database
- Improved rights to have pets
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11th October 2018 50 LIVES 50 HOMES HOUSING FIRST PROJECT
by Australian Policy Online
The 50 Lives 50 Homes project (hereafter referred to as 50 Lives) is a Housing First and collective impact response to ending homelessness in Perth, and the first of its kind in Western Australia. The project commenced in 2015 and takes a collaborative approach to house and provide support for Perth’s most vulnerable people experiencing homelessness. This second evaluation report describes the progress to date of the 50 Lives project in relation to housing and supporting vulnerable rough sleepers. Click here for a link to the article and report
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9th August 2018 STATE GOVERNMENT TRIALS INCLUSIONARY ZONING
by Department of Premier and Cabinet
The Andrews Labor Government is making more affordable homes available for vulnerable Victorians through its Inclusionary Housing Pilot.
Minister for Planning Richard Wynne announced today that an invitation to participate in the Pilot has been extended nationwide from today through Tenders VIC.
The Pilot is part of the Homes for Victorians program and has identified six surplus government sites with potential for mixed housing types in Broadmeadows, Boronia, Parkville, Wodonga, Reservoir and Noble Park.
A minimum of 100 social housing dwellings and a percentage of affordable housing homes will be provided across the sites.
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