Melbourne homelessness: Pandemic helped but experts say more could join them in future
It may have taken a global crisis to see drastic change for Melbourne’s rough sleepers, but housing groups are warning we are facing a post-COVID homeless crisis. This is why.
Melbourne City
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Experts say the COVID-19 “bandaid” fix has helped hundreds of homeless people get off the streets.
But they fear the end of the pandemic could leave even more slipping through the cracks.
In May council announced a $2m plan to help Melbourne’s rough sleepers through the COVID-19 pandemic by providing emergency accommodation in hotels and access to healthcare.
Community Housing Limited (CHL) managing director Steve Bevington said the “bandaid” fix for homelessness in Melbourne proved with more funding it could be prevented.
“I’m dumbfounded that governments for decades said (being homeless) was something that happened and now have resolved it, but it took a pandemic to do it.
“What we have said all of these years that this can be achieved, funded and resolved has been proved in a month or two.
“It’s what (housing groups) said all this time … governments could have resolved this problem.
“It is a temporary bandaid solution and more housing solutions need to be produced in the immediate and longer term.”
Housing groups in Melbourne have predicted the economic fallout and unemployment rates after the pandemic will push the most vulnerable out of the rental market and onto the public housing waitlist.
A slippery slope of waiting for housing and sleeping on rough exists in Melbourne and the Victorian Public Tenants Association estimated 100,000 Victorians will be on the wait list this year.
Homeless woman Emily had been camping near the Bourke St Mall and said she found it hard to find accommodation before of her dog.
“I sleep in and out of squats. I was staying with friends but I can’t do that now because of the coronavirus situation,” she said.
Emily is now in accommodation as a result of a joint effort between police, City of Melbourne and the Salvos to deal more effectively with those sleeping rough in the city.
The DHHS have stated 1,100 transitional rentals be leased to the 2000 homeless people housed during the pandemic in Victoria for up to 18 months before finding long-term housing.
Deputy Lord Mayor Arron Wood said we can’t slip back when the pandemic is over.
“We must intervene early to prevent homelessness, provide stable accommodation as quickly as possible and support people so they are able to maintain housing,” he said.
“We owe it to ourselves in a post-COVID-19 society to keep rough sleepers off our streets.”
The four pop-up accommodation centres which house more than 200 rough sleepers has been extended until April 2021.
In previous coverage it was reported of those offered housing 30 people refused accommodation – it is believed many in this group suffer from serious mental health and addiction issues.
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Contact Grace at grace.mckinnon@news.com.au