Greater Shepparton will be the site of a $4.6m pilot program to help residents return home after the floods, with 40 caravans available for people to place on their front lawns while repairs continue.
The Homes at Home program will be administered by Emergency Relief Victoria and allow people to live on their properties while their homes are being repaired.
Victorian Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes visited Mooroopna on Thursday, April 6 with ERV chief executive Mariela Diaz.
Just under 90 people in Greater Shepparton are currently in accommodation provided by the state government, but anecdotally there are many people who have been displaced who have not come forward for assistance and have been staying with friends or relatives.
Ms Diaz said 1800 people across the state had been supported with alternative accommodation, including nearly 600 from Greater Shepparton.
Ms Diaz said the housing taskforce in Shepparton and Mooroopna had provided guidance to government about the program.
“We know from previous experiences in the bushfires, that being close and on their properties is really important to individuals through their recovery,” she said.
“It means that they continue to go to school, they can continue to work and they can continue to keep an eye on the works in the development of their property.
“The caravans are fully fitted out so you don’t worry to have to worry about whether they’re warm in the wintertime and you don’t have to worry about facilities for cooking.”
Ms Symes said the program was designed to enable uninsured homeowners who had significant repairs to do on their properties to have a caravan or modular home.
“What’s really useful about a program such as this is that you could have a caravan next to your house while the repairs are ongoing,” she said.
“So you might be able to access your bathroom as it becomes repaired or your kitchen and progressively transfer from the accommodation to the homes.”
She said while it would not be a perfect option for all families or people, including those with mobility issues, Ms Symes said it was about providing more options to help people recover from the floods.
“We know there are a lot of people that are still in need and that’s why we have a variety of different programs and support available to meet individual needs,” she said.
City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali thanked the government for its assistance to residents, which he said had continued over the past six months.
“It just adds another layer to our recovery journey as a community,” Cr Sali said.