As Australia confronts the depths of its housing crisis during Homelessness Week (August 7 to 13), there is a ray of light in Mooroopna for some of society’s most vulnerable.
Nine homes are being constructed at a cost of $5 million to provide social housing for local women and their families on the Victorian Housing Register.
Those experiencing family violence, including Indigenous women or Indigenous women-led families, will be prioritised for the Mooroopna Women’s Housing Project, which is funded by Homes Victoria as part of the $5.3 billion Big Housing Build and delivered in partnership with YWCA Australia.
“In a country like Australia, women shouldn’t be forced to remain in unstable or unsafe environments because they can’t afford to live somewhere else,” YWCA Australia chief executive Michelle Phillips said.
“That’s why the stable, low-cost social housing YWCA Australia is providing via the Mooroopna Women’s Housing Project is vital.”
YWCA Australia general manager of community housing Charlotte Dillon said the need felt in Mooroopna was as high as anywhere around the state.
“In all regional areas there’s a real dire need for housing, particularly affordable housing, but particularly in Mooroopna, there’s an extremely low vacancy rate of 0.1 per cent at the moment so it means the availability of suitable housing for women and their families is really low, particularly for women on low incomes,” Miss Dillon said.
“If there are available properties, women on low incomes, or single income households are priced out of the market.
“We’ve also seen the impact of natural disasters such as the recent flooding events, which have really intensified the existing pressure on the housing system.”
Local resident Shara Scott found herself homeless with two young children in 2016 after a relationship breakdown. A position she never thought she’d be in.
“I grew up in this region. I was the dux of my high school. I went on to university, so it definitely was not a position I thought I would ever find myself in, but I was,” she said.
“What this will mean for women at the moment and their children experiencing homelessness is that every single day won’t be dedicated to just thinking about where you might stay.
“So much is possible when you are able to have a roof over your head and it’s secure and stable and safe.”
Miss Dillon said the stories of those in need emphasised the crisis society was facing.
“They’re really heart-breaking and challenging,” she said.
“There’s often discrimination faced by Aboriginal women in the private rental market, and particularly women that have experienced violence.
“We know that nine homes are not going to solve the housing emergency in Mooroopna, but it will mean that there’s nine more families that have a safe place to actually call home.”
YWCA said it was the largest national provider of long-term affordable accommodation to women in Australia.
The development will be constructed by Cavalier Homes Goulburn Valley and is expected to be completed by January 2024.