<p>Cardinia Shire Council FACTSHEET: Housing and Homelessness</p><p> There are 3 rooming houses registered Homelessness with the council  Since 2011 Cardinia’s population has The 2011 Census recorded 145 persons increased by 16%, yet social housing has sleeping rough in Cardinia. A further 235 only increased by 4.4%ii. Cardinia has an persons were identified as living in caravan’s increasing population, but is yet to see an or improvised homes or tents. The Victorian increase in housing support. State electorate of Gembrook has seen a 29% increase in the number of homeless persons between 2006 and 20111. Impact for Cardinia Of the top 20 metro electorates with the highest numbers of people experiencing “We are sleeping in the car again homelessness, half fall in the South East, and the children are getting sick” most of them following the - Housing enquiry, 2014 Pakenham/Cranbourne train line. Dandenong had a 94% jump since 20062 and local service  Overcrowding in houses is a health and providers confirm that Cardinia has begun to safety risk to the community see the issues previously seen in surrounding  Children’s access to, and full participation areas. in, the education system can be severely restricted Housing Options  Children are being exposed to ‘adult behaviour’  Cardinia currently has 61 Community  Poor health outcomes including owned (Community organisations) and depression and self-harm 346 Office of Housing owned dwellings Burden on single parents (usually mums) (Government housing)3, 23 of which are  transitional houses supporting families  There is a strong link between early until they secure a permanent housei. experiences of family violence and homelessness later in life  These houses represent less than 1% of  People congregating around train stations all properties in Cardinia; have and participating in anti-social behaviour unreasonable waiting lists and very little turnover.  High cost of rent has to be prioritised over other essentials such as food, clothing,  Cardinia has 2 crisis accommodation and health care properties also with long waiting lists and 2 Caravan Parks.  Cardinia has high rates of overcrowding, couch surfing and houses being converted into unregistered rooming houses </p><p>1 Council Homeless Persons, Accessed Jan 2015 2 Council of Homeless Persons Presentation, 2014 3 DHS, Additional data 2013-14- Social housing assistance</p><p>Prepared by Social and Community Planning, Cardinia Shire Council Updated Nov 2015 i Transitional Housing figure provided by WAYSS. Transitional Housing included in Government provided housing. ii Based on Informed decisions population estimates for 2011 & 2015 and difference in number of total Office of Housing properties as per Department of Human Services data. </p>