13 Councils, 2 million-plus residents: a unified voice to tackle homelessness

As a signatory to the Regional Local Government Homelessness and Social Housing Charter, Manningham joins 12 other Councils from Melbourne’s east and south in a unified voice, calling for urgent action for more social housing to end homelessness

The 13 Councils want more housing as the first step to address the often complex social and health needs of the region’s most vulnerable community members.

Providing a safe home first, as part of a broader social housing framework, is the way to stem the increase in homelessness. Only then can the compounding set of circumstances which leads to homelessness be properly addressed to enable better outcomes for vulnerable people facing extreme adversity.

Homelessness is more likely to affect those most vulnerable in our society, including women and children fleeing family violence, people with a disability, people living with a mental health condition, people living in poverty and marginalised groups.

Demand for social housing and increases in homelessness are growing issues in Manningham and across the region.

What is social housing and homelessness?

• Social housing is housing owned and managed either by the State Government (public housing) or by Registered Housing Agencies (community housing) that is rented to low income households at either 25% (public housing) or 30% (community housing) of household income.
• Homelessness, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Homelessness Australia, is when a person does not have suitable accommodation alternatives. A person is considered homeless if their current living arrangement:
  • is in a dwelling that is inadequate; or
  • has no tenure, or if their initial tenure is short and not extendable; or
  • does not allow them to have control of, and access to space for social relations.

In Manningham, the latest census data estimated that 3,390 households were in rental stress, social housing or homelessness during 2016. Of these households, 1370 were in severe rental stress, 1520 in moderate rental stress, 290 were in social housing and 220 were experiencing homelessness.

What will the charter do?

The Regional Local Government Homelessness & Social Housing Charter 2020 prioritises three regional commitments that the 13 Councils will act on:

• Work in partnership with federal and state government, public and private sector partners in a coordinated approach to deliver meaningful outcomes to increase the provision of social housing and respond to homelessness in east and south east Melbourne
• Scope land within each local government area that has the potential to be re-purposed for adaptable housing needs
• Advocate together for inclusive housing growth including mandatory inclusionary zoning

In August 2020, the 13 Council alliance submitted a submission to the Federal Government Inquiry into Homelessness in Australia. The submission can be viewed below.