Victorians who have experienced family violence are on average waiting two years for public housing.
The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) 2022/23 annual report has revealed the wait time for people who have experienced family violence is now an average of 23.6 months, up from 17.1 months in 2021/22.
Waiting times are now more than double the government’s target of finding family violence victim-survivors a safe home within 10.5 months, with the gap blowing out to 124 per cent.
Consumer Affairs Victoria's annual report showed the number of challenges to rental rises more than doubled to 5448 in the 2022/23 financial year, up from 2,452 in 2021/22.
Council to Homeless Persons Acting CEO Tom Johnson said the data showed more people were being pushed to the brink of homelessness.
"It's incredibly alarming that people experiencing family violence are now waiting two years on average for public housing," he said.
"Family violence is one of the main drivers of homelessness in Victoria.
"It’s absolutely unacceptable that women and children escaping violence are waiting two years for public housing.
"These figures underline how desperately Victoria needs more public and community housing.
"If we want to tackle this generational crisis, the state needs at least 60,000 new public and community homes built over a decade.
"The number of households challenging rent rises rose a staggering 120 per cent in just a year.
"Record high rent prices and very low vacancy rates are squeezing renters to the brink of homelessness.
"We have never seen a more critical need to lift Victoria off the bottom of Australia's social housing table."
Contact details:
Matt Coughlan 0400 561 480 / Georgie Moore 0421 943 293
