Mornington Peninsula Shire Council says homelessness on the Peninsula is at “tragic” levels.
Council says there are no emergency relief or supported crisis accommodation options in the municipality and at least 1,000 people are currently experiencing homelessness in the municipality – with camping the only option for many.
“Tents? With services so stretched, our only solution might be to support them is camping spaces,” said Mayor, Anthony Marsh.
“A tent in a camp site should remain a summer holiday tradition, not a make-shift solution to our housing crisis.
“But that’s the forced position we find ourselves in due to an incomprehensible lack of support, interest and funding from the Victorian Government to support thousands of our vulnerable community members.
“We need at least $100 million from Victoria’s Big Housing Build program to go toward housing on the Mornington Peninsula. Our community is in desperate need of crisis accommodation, social housing and affordable housing.”
The Mayor says the Peninsula is in desperate need of immediate funding.
“We need $100 million from the Victorian Government’s $5.3 billion Big Housing Build to fix this crisis yet we’ve received just 0.1% despite having one of the highest levels of housing stress in Victoria,” he said.
Council is asking the Victorian Government and all candidates running in the Victorian election to commit to a minimum commitment of $100 million from Victoria’s Big Housing Build program and urgent funding for crisis accommodation.
