While Christmas should be a time of happiness, for many it’s another strain on top of an already stressful housing situation which has pushed some people to the brink of homelessness.

Homelessness advocates have highlighted Ballarat’s growing population as a major contributor to housing stress.

Victorian Council to Homeless Persons policy manager Sarah Toohey said the rate of population growth was putting pressure on the availability of affordable accommodation in the region.

“Ballarat is growing fast and that puts pressure on the number of rental properties available and pushes up prices,” she said. 

“The Ballarat council has been considering an affordable housing strategy, and it’s critical that results in an increasing number of affordable homes in the region. 

“If there’s not more effort to build affordable housing in the region, we’ll continue to see people pushed into homelessness.” 

A number of medium- to high-density developments are before council, but some councillors say it will take a whole community effort to fix the current housing crisis.

Cr Belinda Coates said the affordable housing strategy was one step towards ensuring affordability in Ballarat was addressed.

Cr Coates said part of the strategy was a focus on developing more affordable housing by looking at the need for a diversity of accommodation sizes, including more one- and two-bedroom dwellings.

However, she said a key concept to making the plan work was the support of the community. 

“We have to work on community awareness and raising awareness, from talking about housing strategies and how they will assist housing stress.”

Cr Coates said meetings had already been held with stakeholders, including real estate agents and developers, to discuss tackling the issue.

Cr Des Hudson said the opportunity to work with developers on future projects was the perfect chance to ensure there would be a variety of housing stocks.

Both councillors said finding the right housing in the right places for the right price would be the goal for all councillors addressing the issue. 

“We really need to make sure the prices don’t put us into housing stress,” Cr Hudson said

Ballarat councillors voted unanimously last week in favour of beginning public consultation on a proposal for 96 dwellings at St Paul’s Way on Bakery Hill.

alicia.thomas@fairfaxmedia.com.au