Sheed welcomes $45 million social housing commitment for Shepparton

Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed Shepparton has welcomed the state government’s commitment to a guaranteed minimum investment of $45 million to build new social housing in Shepparton.

Ms Sheed said the commitment would create at least 150 new social housing homes in Shepparton.

“We have 722 people on the priority list for social housing in Shepparton and this commitment by the government will cut the waiting list in half,” Ms Sheed said.

The funding for Shepparton is part of the Victorian Government’s $5.3 billion for the Big Housing Build to construct more than 12,000 new homes throughout metro and regional Victoria.

One-quarter of the funds have been committed to new regional housing stock.

“As the independent local member, I have, along with community organisations and individuals, been pushing the Victorian Government very hard to invest in more social housing stock because of the dire need within our community,” Ms Sheed said

“The Shepparton electorate has some of the highest levels of homelessness in the state, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics and Department of Health and Human Services data.”

“Homelessness is an appalling situation for people to find themselves in and this commitment will go a long way to helping many of the homeless people in the Shepparton region.”

“There are far too many people rough sleeping, including in the forest, or trying to raise children in caravans that are unsafe, insecure and not adequate to protect against extremes of heat and cold, never mind the lack of cooking and other facilities.”

“To thrive, people need the security that a home gives them and their families.”

“Again I welcome this announcement as an important step in the right direction,” Ms Sheed said.

ENDS

Media contact

Jacqui Hawkins 0403 657 267│jacqui.hawkins@parliament.vic.gov.au