Parra News 30 March 2021

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Tuesday, March 30, 2021
LOCAL NEWS
Push for more housing
St Vincent de Paul Society CEO says it’s time to act
NICOLA BARTON
Social Sector Executives fear for the
end of JobSeeker and mortgage
deferrals, after new data revealed a
significant reduction in homelessess over
the past year.
The Parramatta region has seen a 66 per
cent reduction in rough sleepers, recording
32 homeless people in this year’s
annual street count, in comparison to 94
counted in February last year.
Parramatta MP, Geoff Lee said the street
count “is critical in understanding the
needs of the community and targeting
support tailored to those needs”.
“The Government is working hard to
get rough sleepers off the streets and into
secure housing, providing them with the
wraparound support they need to rebuild
their lives,” he said.
“Seeing such a significant reduction in
rough sleepers across the community is a
testament to the strong partnerships our
government has forged with local housing
and homelessness organisations and I look
forward to that good work continuing.”
This year’s figures are a clear indication
of the good work of outreach services
and programs but are also reflective of
the impact of the lifeline JobSeeker wage
subsidy.
St Vincent de Paul Society NSW CEO Jack
de Groot said the street count figures are
proof of the enormous impact government
can have on the issue of homelessness
across the state.
“This is good news and that is because
the State Government showed great initiative
and responsiveness to the vulnerability
of people during Covid; there’s great
learning there,” he said.
But the issue of social housing shortages
remains and whilst Parramatta’s wait list
has reduced over the past few years, it is
still considered one of the highest demand
areas in the state.
There are currently 1833 people on the
general social housing waitlist and 94 on
the priority list.
Mr de Groot said with the end of
JobSeeker, now is the time for the State
Government to invest more in the social
housing sector.
“The end of the rental moratorium and
JobSeeker and Keeper, it’s going to leave
some people very poor and at risk,” he said.
“We’ve got a State Budget in
early June, it’s really crucial that
the State Government takes the
opportunity to invest in more
new and additional social and
affordable housing in NSW.”
In the past financial year Vinnies
assisted 6,600 people in the
Parramatta area with 51 per cent
seeking assistance with food and 67
per cent experiencing housing
stress.
St Vincent de Paul Society NSW CEO Jack de Groot.
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