Figures shared this month by Mornington Peninsula Shire state 12% of homeless residents are sleeping on the streets every night and 35% of residents are facing rental stress.
Laura Sutton, Housing Support Case Manager at Western Port Community Support (WPCS) says, “The main issue I am seeing is the price of private rental properties. Until a few years ago, it was absolutely possible to pick up a cheaper, older unit in Hastings and manage on an aged or disability pension. That is now almost impossible. 55% of the income of someone on an aged pension is around $350 per week. It is extremely rare for a suitable property to be listed at that price these days anywhere across the Mornington Peninsula.”
According to realestate.com.au the median rental price for a 2 bedroom property in Hastings in February 2019 was $340 per week, in February 2024 it is $450.
Similar private rental prices are true for the Southern Peninsula. CEO of Southern Peninsula Community Support, Jeremy Maxwell says, “If I thought last year was tough, I can already see that this year will be even tougher for those who are struggling. On our first day back this year, the team interviewed 44 people needing support. Levels we haven’t seen since pre-Covid. And the attendances by rough sleepers at SPLaSh (Southern Peninsula Laundry and Shower Program) is the highest since the program started for a January.”
Laura continues, “People who have never previously accessed services are now needing to. I support numerous people who are fantastic tenants. They keep their homes beautifully and always prioritise their rent. However, they are staying in accommodation that has increased to an amount that means they are going without proper healthcare, not filling scripts or skipping meals so they do not fall behind. They look around and there’s nowhere cheaper to go. Commonly when people are managing in a rental, they don’t meet criteria for priority public housing and even if they do, an offer of housing usually takes years. This means we need to look at private options which are often shared when on a low income. For people who are vulnerable, elderly or disabled this is often a really scary idea.”
Executive Officer at WPCS, Georgia Hourn says, “This month in addition to her other clients Laura has worked with 7 single women aged over 70 – two with terminal illnesses – who are all at risk of homelessness due to rent increases. The lack of affordable housing is grim. We are now having to subsidise some rents just to keep these women from becoming rough sleepers.”
While there isn’t a quick solution to the housing crisis, funding from MPF donors makes the vital support and advocacy offered at WPCS and SPCS possible.