Spotlight on cheap rent

By Shaun Inguanzo
THE future of the City of Greater Dandenong’s affordable homes for lowincome earners will hinge on a regional housing strategy, amid increasing financial stress on families.
The Tenants Union of Victoria released a national report late last month illustrating the financial struggle facing lowincome earners renting private properties, despite financial assistance from the Federal Government.
The report has now led charity group St Vincent de Paul to call for State and Federal governments to address the nationwide issue and develop a strategy to combat expensive rent.
The Star reported in September that the City of Greater Dandenong’s new housing estates, including Metro 3175, had been ‘unashamedly’ geared for higher income earners.
Council’s strategic planning team leader Jody Bosman had told the Star there was a disproportionately high level of public housing in the city which needed to be balanced out.
But the council will now consider the Southern Region Housing Statement, which has had input from a variety of local governments and the State Government, before it outlines a clear plan for the future of the city’s affordable housing.
WAYSS Dandenong, which provides emergency and transitional housing for lowincome earners, said it was imperative people could afford their rent and a lifestyle.
WAYSS general manager Jen Kelly said Dandenong already contained affordable housing, but prices were now on the rise.
Ms Kelly said ‘housing stress’, which is widely described as rent or repayments swallowing up more than 30 per cent of a household’s income, was impacting negatively on people’s quality of life.
“I think the professionals like the Tenants Union of Victoria and the Office of Housing are all aware that affordable housing is necessary so the quality of people’s lives is not affected by commitments to housing costs,” she said.
The City of Greater Dandenong manager social development Mark Patterson last week said the council was considering the results of the Southern Region Housing Statement before making any further commitments to affordable housing strategies.