Monique Ryan (Kooyong, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last Friday, I had the great privilege of attending the Local Sounds music event at Carrical House in Hawthorn. For 40 years, Servants Community Housing has provided people on low incomes with safe, affordable, endless-lease community housing. Servants Community Housing was established in 1986 when members of the Hawthorn West Baptist Church decided to do something about the closure of a local rooming house in Hawthorn. It has since evolved into one of Victoria's most respected community housing providers.

Servants Community Housing has a unique model which empowers its nearly 100 residents. With shared meals, live-in house managers and opportunities to engage with social enterprises, Servants Community Housing provides residents with dignity and hope. Many residents have lived through significant challenges—mental illness, domestic violence, disability, trauma and homelessness. Servants doesn't just give them a home; it gives them a community. I'd like to sincerely thank Amanda, Donald, Jayden, Mikyla, Jordie, Grace, Mark and the rest of the Servants Community Housing team for inviting me to be part of that community.

Visiting Servants Community Housing reminded me that, while over 20,000 Victorians live in community housing, demand still remains unmet for affordable, social and community housing. Homelessness is a cycle in which too many Australians are caught, with too many in our communities only one bad month or one missed pay cheque away from a crisis. While organisations like Servants Community Housing provide specialised support and subsidised rent for adults, many at-risk young people continue to miss out on social housing opportunities.

Despite significant investment through the Housing Australia Future Fund, subsidised rents can still exceed what many young unhoused Australians can afford. It's a disgrace to this country that nearly a quarter of Australia's homeless population is aged between 12 and 24 years. Further targeted HAFF rounds and a youth housing supplement would bridge that gap, give young people better access to existing social housing and make it possible to build more homes specially designed for young people. Stable, affordable housing is a prerequisite for employment, education and training. A youth housing supplement to help young people access secure housing wouldn't just be good social policy; it would be good economic policy. I urge the government to take action to improve access to social and affordable housing in the forthcoming federal budget.