The city of Melbourne is facing a housing crisis, with many key workers employed in the municipality having to travel long distances to work due to the lack of affordable housing options. In an effort to address this issue, Lord Mayor Sally Capp announced plans to work with developers and community housing providers to utilize available sites for housing projects. Capp emphasized the importance of making the most of these sites while adhering to planning regulations, suggesting that long-term peppercorn leases could be a solution to help with the financial aspects of the projects.
However, not everyone is on board with the plans, with concerns raised about the impact on parking availability in the area. May Lim, the operator of a local patisserie, expressed worry about the already limited parking spaces, which could be further strained by the housing developments. On the other hand, Rose Mitchell, a member of the City of Melbourne’s affordable housing panel, emphasized the urgent need for housing in the municipality, citing instances of people living in their cars despite having jobs. Mitchell highlighted the stark contrast between Australia and Europe in terms of requiring a percentage of new housing to be affordable.
The City of Melbourne’s budget will include a $1.5 million boost for homelessness services, aimed at supporting organizations such as Launch Housing and the Salvation Army in providing assistance to those in need. This funding will also go towards specialist youth homelessness support through Melbourne City Mission’s Frontyard Youth Services. The announcement of the draft budget is anticipated to take place on Tuesday, with a focus on addressing the housing crisis and improving support for the homeless population in the area.
Overall, the initiative to prioritize housing in the city of Melbourne is met with mixed reactions, with some expressing concerns about potential challenges such as parking availability, while others are supportive of the efforts to address the pressing need for affordable housing. The collaboration between the council, developers, and community housing providers is seen as a step in the right direction towards tackling the housing crisis. With the allocation of additional funding for homelessness services, there is hope that these efforts will make significant progress in improving the living conditions for those in need in the city of Melbourne.
