• Cranbourne News

By Bridget Brady

5th November 2009 02:05:27 AM

Some of the Cranbourne Information and Support Service (CISS) team Ros Larke, Dawn Wilson and Julie Jones, front. 38539

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CRANBOURNE battlers are couch surfing and living in sheds, as it has been revealed poverty is still rife in the town.

The manager of a local support agency says people in the Cranbourne and Hampton Park areas are still struggling to make ends meet.

People are sleeping in their cars and the agency has noted an increase in unregistered rooming houses.

Cranbourne Information and Support Service (CISS) manager Leanne Petrides said housing stress was a major issue in the area.

CISS received almost 2000 more requests for services this financial year than the last and had an increase of almost 800 requests for emergency relief.

“It is a staggering figure when you think about it,” Ms Petrides said.

Some of the services CISS provides include food, petrol and chemist’s vouchers, as well as financial counselling.

This financial year 5844 adults and 6167 children benefited in some way just from emergency relief.

And the cost of schooling is too much for some, with people lining up for the back-to-school program at CISS that has not even started yet.

“We’re already getting people phoning and coming in. We’re talking about public eduction, which is a basic right.

“Costs have risen faster than the cost of living, so people who are on a limited income or low are paying a much greater proportion of their income trying to keep their kids engaged in the education system,” she said.

The program offers assistance with the cost of uniforms, books and school fees.

Ms Petrides said it was pleasing to see people still supported and donated money to CISS during the current financial climate.

“One of the things I’m very proud to say is that every single cent that gets donated to our emergency relief fund gets spent on this area. I think people (who donate) appreciate that,” she said.

Ms Petrides said: “People are paying a huge proportion of their income to maintain a roof over their head.”

“Unfortunately it’s placing people in really stressful situations.”

Cranbourne MP Jude Perera said housing stress had been an issue for the last 13 years and he welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement to roll out affordable, social housing and additional support to local support agencies that did such a vital job.

“Unfortunately the previous Federal Government didn’t support affordable housing as it simply wasn’t sexy enough,” Mr Perera said.

“It’s worrying because you can’t build houses overnight.”

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