By Kyra Gillespie
Cardinia Shire has been awarded a competitive Victorian Government grant to boost social housing.
The grant of $144,780 will be used to fund a study to identify social housing needs in the region with consideration to population growth and housing service provision gaps along with a land audit to identify appropriate parcels of council-owned land for a pipeline of new social housing projects.
More than 20 councils from across Victoria applied to receive one of the Social Housing Investment Planning (SHIP) grants.
Council’s Acting Manager Community Strengthening, Petrina Dodds Buckley, described affordable housing as a “critical issue” in the municipality.
“The shortage of appropriate affordable housing is a critical social issue for Cardinia Shire. Council has identified the need for affordable housing options and local service providers confirm this,” Ms Dodds Buckley said.
“Currently there are limited housing options for those experiencing financial hardship or presenting with crisis and emergency situations, and local service providers are struggling to provide any short-term, long-term or sustainable rental support.”
Results from research undertaken by council in late 2016 propelled the local government body to apply for the funding.
“Research was undertaken in late-2016 to assess the nature and extent of financial vulnerability in Cardinia Shire, and census 2016 data also indicates an increase in homelessness,” Ms Dodds Buckley continued.
“Additionally, comprehensive research undertaken for the development of the Liveability Plan identified housing as a key social policy area.
“Council is currently developing a Social and Affordable Housing Strategy, which identifies current and future housing needs. This report will be finalised later this year with a number of recommendations to address the findings.”
Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Daniel Mulino MP said that Cardinia Shire council’s successful application for took into account the unique challenges and opportunities present in the region.
“We need to grow social housing in Cardinia and I’m delighted the Victorian Government has awarded this grant to assist council to plan for future growth,” Mr Mulino said.
The grant will fund a full time project officer to undertake this work and to implement the new Social and Affordable Housing Strategy with a focus on facilitating new local partnerships.
Councils were required to demonstrate in their applications how their plans would drive development of social housing in their area, for instance through creating municipal social housing plans and identifying land suitable for future social housing projects.
