Crisis queues lengthen as debts rise

By Melissa Grant
CRISIS centres in Pakenham are busier than ever as an increasing number of workers find themselves in debt and queuing for the dole.
The onset of winter and the global financial crisis have seen more families asking for a helping hand, struggling to pay rising rents and bills and at least one family is living in a car.
It has also seen a rise in the number of people queuing for the dole at Pakenham’s Centrelink office, with 693 people receiving Newstart and Youth allowances through the centre, a 7.3 per cent rise on April figures.
WAYSS housing services worker Jan Glen said the past two months had been “chaotic”, with a high number of people falling into arrears after losing their jobs.
Ms Glen said the number of drop-ins at the centre was on the rise, and estimated that Pakenham was home to 50 homeless people, including families who had nowhere to go.
A Pakenham woman with three children sleeping in a car was one of the many cases Ms Glen dealt with in the past week.
“We’ve actually seen more families who have lost their employment – it’s a high trend,” Ms Glen said.
“Rents are increasing and people are finding it hard. We haven’t stopped since January, every department.”
It is a similar story at 4Cs, Cardinia Shire’s official emergency relief provider, which is servicing an average 35 clients or families a day.
Director Jeni Mathieson said people’s problems were becoming increasingly complex as the economic crisis depended.
“It’s not the usual bill for a couple of hundred of dollars – it’s electricity and gas bills for thousands of dollars,” she said.
“It’s a range of things – rent arrears, bills. It’s not just one thing; it’s their worlds falling apart.”
Andre van Eymeren, co-ordinator of Big House Communities, said the rate of homelessness in Pakenham was a concern.
“What’s more than that is it continues to be a cycle,” he said.
“You get a win every now and then, when people get a private rental.”
Mr van Eymeren said another worrying trend was the increase in mental health issues and people’s desperation.
He described the issues of homelessness and food poverty as complex, saying emotional issues stemmed from both – and few locals simply didn’t know who to turn to.
“We’re finding in Pakenham one of the issues is that a lot of people just don’t have the social networks, so when the wheels fall off they don’t know of anywhere to go in the local community,” Mr Van Eymeren said.
He urged people facing tough times to break the withdrawal and reach out sooner rather than later.
“Don’t be afraid to talk to WAYSS or 4Cs, there are people there who genuinely care and want to make a difference,” he said.
“Sometimes you just have to swallow the hard pill.
“If you go and talk to someone, who can point you in the direction then you can see a way through.”