Political will is what's needed in order to address the housing crisis in Griffith, says leading homelessness support organisation in NSW.
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Digby Hughes, acting CEO of Homelessness NSW says there is currently a five to ten year wait for social housing in Griffith, and with the impact of COVID still to come, the problem could get worse.
"Studies being conducted now are saying we are not going to see the worst impact on homelessness for another five years yet from COVID," he said.
"The worst is yet to come."
Mr Hughes says that social housing has played a critical role in re-building communities in the past, and it could do so again, if there is political backing.
"Post Second World War, 16 per cent of all dwellings built were public housing. It enabled people to live in safe, secure, clean, decent housing."
"It was seen as a normal part of the community."
Since then priorities for governments have shifted away from providing secure, safe housing and instead have focused on addressing secondary issues such as mental health and drug addiction.
However, Mr Digby says that people are not able to adequately focus on their well being without a secure roof over their head.
"What we do know is when people are partially housed, poorly housed or homeless, their health, education and family outcomes are worse off, and this is not good for a community," Mr Digby explained.
"Show me the person who is able to function properly as a human being without adequate housing. They don't exist.
"You fund and build public housing, you could end homelessness. It's that simple."
There are currently just under 200 applications on a waiting list in Griffith for social housing, and it is likely there are a number of people on each application, including children explained Mr Digby.
"If the government today invested to build 200 dwellings in Griffith to house those people, that then would flow through to employment opportunities for the whole community," he said.
"It's very hard to apply for and get a job if you are not properly housed."
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