A recent survey by the Council to Homeless Persons (CHP) has uncovered that more than half of frontline workers are considering leaving their roles due to skyrocketing workloads and limited social housing supplies.
The survey, which engaged over 250 workers, found that over two-thirds of frontline services turn away vulnerable individuals due to overcapacity.
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Additionally, 70 per cent of workers reported an increase in their workload over the past year, with 55 per cent seriously considering leaving the sector in the last six months.
Frontline workers expressed frustration at the lengthy wait times for social housing, insufficient funding, and the emotional toll of witnessing clients return to dangerous environments or sleeping rough.
CEO of CHP, Deborah Di Natale, says Victoria’s homelessness workforce is on the brink of collapse as demand for housing assistance reaches unprecedented levels.
“Workers are burning themselves out making impossible choices every day about who to help and all too often that help is a years-long waitlist for housing that does not exist,” she said.
Ms Di Natale said the situation was “unacceptable and untenable” and urged the state governments to build at least 6,000 new public and community homes each year.
“CHP is urging the government to invest $20 billion over four years to build public and community housing as well as $39.4 million to expand homelessness and housing intake services.”
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