At Tuesday night's meeting, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council committed an additional $50,000 each to the three community support centres in Rosebud, Mornington and Hastings. This is on top of the $700,000 council provides the centres annually.
Demand for these services is at record levels as cost of living pressures bite and the centres are struggling to keep up. January is usually their quietest month but higher than usual demand is causing concern.
In making the decision to allocate additional funds, Council unanimously agreed to increase its support for our most vulnerable citizens, but also called on the state government to commit its fair share to help the Mornington Peninsula.
The statistics are devastating. Our community faces significant social and economic challenges:
- 12 per cent of homeless residents sleep rough every night (the fourth worst LGA in Victoria).
- Six towns suffer housing stress higher than the Australian average.
- 35 per cent of residents are in rental stress.
- Median weekly household income is $1,276, much less than in Greater Melbourne ($1,542).
- The median rent for a home on the Peninsula is now significantly higher than the Greater Melbourne average. ($100 higher per week)
- Fewer than one in three Peninsula rental properties are affordable to those on a low income.
- Just 1.1 per cent of houses sold are affordable to those on a low income.
- 4000 people waiting on a high 'priority need' social housing list.
Quote attributable to Mayor Councillor Simon Brooks:
"Council is worried about the significant increase in community members seeking help for basic necessities such as food.
"We are frustrated at the lack of state government support, adequate funding and interest in our community's plight. We can't do this alone and call on the Minister to step up and support our community.
"Despite our long-term advocacy on this issue we feel as if the Mornington Peninsula has been forgotten."
