Shire backs house push

By MARA PATTISON-SOWDEN
YARRA Ranges Council has added its advocacy to the fight for low-income housing for its residents.
It has backed a push by seven Victorian peak housing and homelessness organisations urging the Victorian Government to make a long-term commitment to provide social housing.
The Housing Act 1983 states that every person in Victoria should have adequate and appropriate housing at a price within their means.
Councillor Jeanette McRae said the council needed to support people’s aspirations for housing.
“I believe this passionate council supports its members of the community,” she said.
Councillor Samantha Dunn agreed, saying the peak bodies at the frontline needed the council’s support.
“If we can add strength and advocacy that’s more strength to them furthering their cause,” she said.
The social housing priorities for the joint organisations include being able to increase the amount of low-income housing, investing to fix underlying financial problems, helping tenants with support and participation and establishing a state-wide housing taskforce to oversee the changes.
The organisations include the Victorian Council of Social Service, the Council to Homeless Persons, Tenants Union of Australia, Community Housing Federation of Victoria, Victorian Public Tenants’ Association, Domestic Violence Victoria and the Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic.