‘A job is not enough’: Extent of Geelong’s homelessness crisis revealed

They have jobs but they have nowhere to stay and not enough to eat. More and more working women in Geelong are asking for help.

CHP chief executive Deborah Di Natale says working women are the face of the cost of living crisis. Picture: Esther Linder

The number of employed people seeking support from homelessness services in Geelong has soared, with working women most affected.

Greater Geelong has seen a 59 per cent increase in working people seeking specialist homelessness services’ help, according to a report released on Tuesday by the Council to Homeless Persons (CHP).

The report revealed 535 people with jobs in Greater Geelong sought support in 2022-23, the third highest number in any Victorian region.

It had the state’s second highest net increase – a steep jump from 336 in 2020-2021.

Women accounted for a 75 per cent of the surge in people seeking help in Greater Geelong, and 72 per cent of the total number last financial year.

Outpost vice-chairwoman Amy Flint said the Geelong service welcomed employed and unemployed people, and was increasingly seeing working people come through the doors.

“What we’re seeing is working women and families struggling to make ends meet,” she said.

“We are seeing women who have never had to access food relief coming in … a really significant increase in those seeking food relief, we’ve completely exhausted our food relief vouchers.”

The Outpost’s Amy Flint (left).

Statewide, women represent 58 per cent of people seeking assistance from homelessness services in Victoria and more than 70 per cent of employed people looking for help.

CHP chief executive Deborah Di Natale said the data showed the disproportionate impact of the cost-of-living crisis on working mums and children.

“Working women are the face of this crisis,” Ms Di Natale said.

“Employed women escaping family violence are often faced with the impossible choice between shelter and abuse.”

CHP is calling for $5.6m in the 2024/25 May state budget, and $23.4m over four years to grow the Private Rental Assistance Program, remedy rental arrears, avoid evictions and grow Victoria’s public and community housing.

The report also calls for the state government to build 6000 public and community homes each year for a decade to end Victoria’s status as the nation’s “worst social housing jurisdiction”.

“Melbourne’s outer suburbs and the state’s regional centres are at the eye of this savage cost-of-living storm,” Ms Di Natale said.

“Not even a job is enough to guarantee a roof over people’s heads.

“We can’t let this crisis slide into catastrophe.”

Originally published as ‘A job is not enough’: Extent of Geelong’s homelessness crisis revealed