MASP responds to ‘startling’ Homelessness report

Mallee Accommodation and Support Program (MASP) remains committed to helping the homeless in the Mallee community and working with Governments at all levels to combat homelessness and disadvantage.

Modelling commissioned by Homelessness Australia has revealed a startling more than 60 per cent increase in Australians at risk of homelessness since 2016, with MASP Acting CEO Charmaine Calis highlighting the need for change.

“All over Australia people are struggling with rental stress, low income and low social resources, and the Mallee community is certainly not immune to that,” she said. “People with two or more of these complicating factors are termed ‘at risk’ of homelessness according to Homelessness Australia – we need to see more investment from Governments to alleviate these pressures people are experiencing.”

According to the report, 987,405 people in Victoria were at risk of losing their home on the back of a 23.1 per cent increase in rental stress.

“Across our service area MASP has been supporting more than 500 people a year over the past three financial years through our Housing Access programs,” Mrs Calis said.

“On top of that, since February we have engaged 60 people through our Assertive Outreach Rough Sleeper Program – these people in that program aren’t those ‘at risk’ of homelessness, they are very much experiencing it. As an organisation MASP welcomes the reporting of the figures to shed light on the crisis many are facing. We all need to work together now to create solutions.”

For more information on MASP’s Housing Access Programs, or if you are facing homelessness, go to https://masp.org.au/how-we-help/homelessness-support/

To donate to MASP’s programs, including Homelessness Support, go to https://masp.org.au/get-involved/donate-and-fundraise-for-masp/

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