Council set to reject support for renters

Sunday Forums #1 wrap

Council’s proposed response to the What’s it like renting in Port Phillip? November 2023 meetingorganised by Alex Darton and Les Rosenblatt is totally inadequate.

Crunch time is Wednesday 17 July at 6.30pm at St Kilda Town Hall: will Council help or not help local renters. Be there in person or online to ensure the voices of renters are heard.

Housing must be front and centre in the October Council election – that’s the conclusion from Progressive Port Phillip’s Sunday Forum #1 held on 14 July.

An engaged and passionate audience, moderator Peter Mares and key contributors, Liz Johnstone, Chair of St Kilda Community Housing and Charlie Beckley, CEO of Southport Community Housing highlighted what a bold and committed Council could do.

Seventy locals heard about the depth of the local housing crisis:

• Over the past nine months, median rents rising by up to $100 per week in some parts of Port Phillip
• More than 3500 households are in severe housing stress (paying more than 50 % of their income on rent)
• A shortfall of 6600 affordable homes now is likely to double over the next 15 years