THE number of people waiting for public housing in the south-west has dropped in the past three months, according to the latest state government statistics.
Across the region the number of people needing public housing fell from 582 in June to 559 in September.
However, the waiting list for people in need of public housing in Warrnambool increased from 497 in June to 503 in September, while in Portland the number dropped from 85 in June to 56 in September.
Minister for Housing Wendy Lovell said the September-quarter list was the lowest in four years.
Across Victoria, the waiting list in the September 2012 quarter fell by 495, from 36,940 in the June quarter to 36,445.
“There’s still work to do, but our proactive approach has seen the waiting list fall to the lowest level since the September 2008 quarter,” Ms Lovell said.
The September quarterly report recorded falls in waiting lists across five of the eight regions across the state.
Ms Lovell said the government was working hard to deal with the issues affecting public housing, including reviewing vacancy rates, turnover procedures and times.
“We’re working with those who have been on the waiting list the longest,” she said.
“We’re also developing our Housing Framework, to be delivered next year, which will put public housing on a more sustainable footing, while protecting the most vulnerable.”
cquirk@standard.fairfax.com.au
