Making ‘cents’ of the Victorian Budget for people who live in public housing, and people on the waitlist. (see what we did there…)
Following a year that many would like to forget, today’s State Budget comes approximately 6 months late, and only 6 months before the 2021 Budget is due to be handed down.
What does it all mean for people who live in public housing, and people on the wait list?
The Big Housing Build
Let’s start with the good news.
The Big Housing Build includes funding to renew 1,100 existing public housing dwellings.
There is also funding to kickstart the Build-to-Rent industry in Victoria. This could represent a viable pathway to affordable housing for some people on the wait list, especially those who are not in a priority category, and may otherwise never be allocated a property.
Unfortunately – that’s it.
While the program will overall deliver 9,300 new properties, we understand that all of these new homes will be managed by community housing providers and associations. This means that there is no growth in housing that is both owned and managed publicly.
We estimate that currently, publicly owned and managed housing represents three quarters of all social housing in Victoria. As a result of the Big Housing Build, the proportion of publicly owned and managed housing will drop to around 69 per cent of all social housing in Victoria.
This is a point of serious concern. See our response to the Big Housing Build for more information.
The Big Housing Build is separate to the Public Housing Renewal Project and the 1,000 new public housing properties currently under construction.
A Regulatory Review
As part of the Big Housing Build, a Regulatory Review has been announced.
We understand that this Review will be primarily concerned with the policies and procedures of community housing providers and associations.
No changes to public housing policies and procedures have been announced as part of this Budget.
We will be working hard to assist the Regulatory Review to ensure that the new properties to be built will be managed and allocated in a way that is fair, safe and affordable for people on the waitlist.
Homes Victoria
You may have noticed some changes in how letters from your local Housing Office look, since Homes Victoria was created.
We have been assured that none of the ways in which services are currently delivered by your local office will change. As always, if anything is wrong or you’d like some advice, get in touch with our Tenant Advocates who will be happy to assist.
Part of the shift to Homes Victoria includes the formation of a new, 10-year growth strategy for housing. This is very good news.
A long-term growth strategy is something that the VPTA has been calling for. The time for one-off construction announcements are long behind us. If we are serious about making sure every Victorian who needs a home, has one, growth must be an ongoing process.
We will be seeking to work closely with the new Homes Victoria to champion public housing, and fight for consistent growth in publicly owned and managed housing.
Energy Efficiency Upgrades
It’s no secret that many of Victoria’s public housing properties are too cold in winter, too hot in summer, and too expensive to keep the lights on in.
The Budget funds energy efficiency upgrades for 35,000 social housing properties. While this is very welcome, and urgently needed, we are concerned that the funding is split between both public and community housing.
Even energy efficiency upgrades to 35,000 public housing properties exclusively would not meet the need. Crucially, there is still no way for solar panels to be added to public housing properties.
We’ll be using the time between this Budget and next May to push for additional maintenance and upgrades for existing public housing stock.
Pathway to Recovery project – North Melbourne and Flemington
This project will receive a funding boost of $7 million. The project will work with residents to find training and employment opportunities, sustain tenancies and establish neighbourhood groups.
Family Violence Refuges
A number of existing refuges are being redeveloped, and enhanced to deliver services like 24 hours intake. Once all additional services are delivered, the number of households that can be accommodated is projected to increase by 40 per cent.
Women and children escaping domestic abuse represent a significant group of the Victorian Housing Register, yet we know that many more are forced to return to dangerous homes, or face an experience of homelessness. So enhancing the capacity of our family violence refuges is overdue, and welcome.
Paid Sick Leave Pilot for Casual Workers
A new ‘Secure Work Pilot Scheme’ will run for two years, to provide casual workers with access to paid sick leave.
The kind of workers likely to benefit include those who work as cleaners, security guards, in aged care, hospitality and supermarkets.
Save $250 on Your Power Bills
Households which include an eligible concession card holder (for example, someone who receives JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, or a pension) and use the Victorian Energy Compare website to search for a cheaper energy deal, could be eligible for a one-off $250 Power Saving Bonus.