Political Vision Needed to Assist Vulnerable - Salvos

The Salvation Army has called on all political parties in Victoria to consider the needs of disadvantaged and vulnerable in the lead up to the November State election.

In an election platform the Salvation Army says the greatest areas of concern are housing and homelessness, justice, family violence,Out of Home Care and health – including mental health and alcohol and other drugs (AOD).

“The apparent intractability of complex social problems like homelessness requires long-term vision and commitment by Government and the community sector,” the Platform said.

“Homelessness can’t just be seen as something that happens to individuals while structural issues continue to push too many Victorians into housing stress and ultimately homelessness."

The Salvo said some of the most pressing issues are:

• costs of housing, including private rental, increasing faster than

• the average wage and government income support payments;

• lack of social housing for low income earners;

• old, poor quality public housing stock;

• shortage of crisis accommodation; and

• a backlog in transitional housing due to the lack of affordable exit options.

The Salvation Army said it supports policy and budgetary initiatives to help deal with structural issues like housing affordability:

• extensive and long-term investments in social housing, including

• public housing, to match levels of demand, with a goal of increasing

• social housing stock to equal at least 5% of all Victorian housing;

• increasing the options for long-term, supported housing to help people with multiple and complex needs;

• substantial investments in rapid rehousing initiatives to alleviate pressure on crisis and transitional housing; and an affordable housing strategy for Victoria.

To help people at risk of homelessness, or people already in crisis, address issues in their life that impact on their ability to obtain and maintain housing,the Salvation Army said it is advocating for:

• increased private rental brokerage programs to help people access private rental;

• medium-term subsidies to help renters at risk of homelessness sustain their tenancies and maintain housing costs at 30% of the household income;

• the expansion of tenancy support programs for people in social housing and private rental;

• a housing guarantee for young people leaving state care, up to the age of 25, to help them through this transition and prevent them from becoming homeless;

• increased intensive, long-term case management and support to help vulnerable individuals sustain their housing once they are housed; and better exit planning and resources for people leaving hospitals, mental health facilities or prison who have nowhere to go.

The Salvation Army Election Platform can be downloaded here.