MORNINGTON PENINSULA: Homelessness up
Mornington Peninsula homelessness has surged by 37 per cent in the past five years, according to Mornington MLA Chrois Crewther who has quoted Southern Peninsula Community Support.
“There are over 3000 applications for public housing from Mornington Peninsula residents out of the 66,000 altogether,” Mr Crewther told Parliament.
“Half of these are classed as priority, such as the person fleeing family violence who approached me in the last week.
“The Shire’s latest research identifies that at least 689 people are out there experiencing homelessness on any given night, although the true number is likely much higher.
“We now have people sleeping rough in cars, on the foreshore and elsewhere. Many are women – around 60 per cent of those seeking crisis help – and often older women over 50 who have nowhere to go.
“Shockingly, around 20 per cent of homelessness on the peninsula is being faced by those who are under 18 years old. “So we need to do a lot more in this space, and this MPI makes a mockery of what this Labor Government claims to be doing. They need to do a lot more,” Mr Crewther said.