By LIA SPENCER
ICE is one of the factors driving up homelessness in Pakenham and surrounds, with domestic violence, mental health issues and competitive housing prices also to blame.
There were 22,000 people recorded homeless at the last census, with 140 in the Cardinia Shire. But several services in the area are doing what they can to help.
According to Council to Homeless Persons (CPH), homelessness occurs when a person or family does not have access to a safe, secure, affordable home. Many situations trigger homelessness including lack of access to affordable housing, leaving state care as a young person without accommodation and escaping violence at home. Physical and mental health issues and financial hardship can also contribute.
But Kim Culpin, manager of Outer South Homeless Services at Wayss, said of the major factors affecting homeless was drugs, in particular methamphetamines. “Drugs play a huge role,” she said. Ice and other drugs affect a huge amount of homeless. It’s increased tenfold between the last 12 months and two years.”
Besides drug addiction, Ms Culpin said family violence, relationship breakdowns, mental health and a competitive housing market were also to blame for homelessness.
“Homelessness affects people across all demographics,” Ms Culpin said.
“A woman might be living with a partner who has a good income, but leaves because of family violence and is left with nothing.”
Jamie Bakker, a single mother who now lives with her boyfriend, said she had never touched drugs in her life. Instead, it was a bad family situation after her mother’s sudden death which caused her to leave home at the age of 16 in search for a better life. The Pakenham woman also said a car accident caused her debt to spiral out of control, making it almost impossible to save for a bond on a house in a competitive rental market.Ms Culpin said private rentals are becoming less and less available and the affordability is out of reach- being more than 55 per cent of their income.
“It’s hard for people to get. And real estate agents have to do their job. If they have 50 applications for one house, they want to be assured the tenant can pay their rent.”
Ms Culpin said Wayss, in Berwick, provided an open door for the whole Southern region, including anyone who was homeless or at risk of being homeless. They also have a Pakenham office which is accessbile by appointment.They have a Housing Establishment Fund (HEF) which includes funding from the government to help people who are homeless or at risk. Wayss helps with rent and suitable or affordable houses- which is a difficult task.
“Unfortunately in the Casey and Cardinia region, there is not a lot available for housing, so we often have to put people in rooming houses. We sometimes place people in motels until we find something else,” she said.
“What we need is more government funding and more government owned and council-owned rooming houses which can be policed better. There is one in Dandenong and two in Frankston, but none in the Cardinia Shire.”
Cardinia Shire Council Youth Services co-ordinator Emma Firth said that council recognised that there was a gap in early intervention/prevention programs/services for young people who were at risk of homelessness.
“We are strong advocates for the Reconnect Program to be funded state-wide so that young people and families in Cardinia are eligible for the service,” Ms Firth said.
“My Place services and programs provide young people with the opportunity to address a range of issues as well as remain engaged in education, employment, community and family therefore decreasing the risk of young people becoming homeless.”
My Place was opened in the main street of Pakenham in August 2012. The services which are currently based at, or outreaching from My Place are: Cardinia Shire Council Youth Services, Oakwood School, Youth Support and Advocacy Service, Monash Health, South East Centre Against Sexual Assault, Headspace GP, Headspace Clinician, Private Psychologists, Department of Justice and Centrelink Community Engagement Officer.
For further information about the types of programs and services that are offered by Cardinia Shire Council Youth Services go to www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/youth or like us on Facebook ‘Cardinia Youth Services’.
