Housing woes ease

By CASEY NEILL
THE wait for public housing is getting shorter in Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia – but 3864 people remain on the waiting list.
Housing Minister Wendy Lovell last week said the September quarter figures showed there were 168 fewer people on the waiting list at the Dandenong office, which covers the three municipalities, than the previous quarter – a 4.2 per cent drop.
She said the state-wide list was now at its lowest level since September 2008 and the State Government was “working hard to deal with issues affecting public housing, including reviewing vacancy rates, turnover procedures and times”.
Ms Lovell said the government was developing a Housing Framework to be delivered next year that would put public housing on a more sustainable footing while protecting the most vulnerable.
The Department of Human Services provides public and community housing and support for low income Victorians, targeted to those most in need.
Public housing refers to homes rented to people on low incomes that the government owns or leases and manages.