FAMILIES in need are waiting 10 years or more for public housing in the Riverina, latest figures show.
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According to statistics from the Department of Family and Community Services, 716 applicants in the region were placed in housing in the 12 month period ending June 2015.
But 1380 applicants remain on the waiting list for 4484 properties across the Riverina region.
Wait time for a three bedroom residence is up to two years in Wagga, two to five years in Griffith and 10 years or more in Coolamon.
One Wagga woman living in city public housing said she was shocked to learn of the increase in waiting periods.
The pensioner, who asked not to be named over “stigmatisation” fears, said she had waited only a year for her three bedroom public housing residence a decade ago.
“I’ve noticed the waiting times when you go into the housing office,” she said. “Some of them are shocking.”
Wagga Women’s Health Centre crisis support worker Julie Mecham said queuing times for public housing particularly hurt women and children escaping family violence.
Stress over finding somewhere safe to live often had negative mental health impacts, Ms Mecham said.
“Waiting times are a challenge because when women are escaping domestic violence they need something straight away,” she said.
Ms Mecham said that while charitable organisations, such as Sisters Housing Enterprises, were providing emergency relief, they were “operating at absolute capacity”.
Victims of domestic violence often lack monetary means or community support to flee their situation, meaning they are more reliant on government and charities.
“They don’t have those links,” Ms Mecham said.
“Often there is financial abuse and isolation.”
A Department of Family and Community Services spokesperson said the government was addressing the current waiting list.
“In January, the NSW Government issued its 10 year blueprint Future Directions for Social Housing in NSW which outlines how it will supply more social housing; support people to avoid and/or leave social housing through boosting assistance in the private rental market; and provide a better experience for those who are in social housing,” the spokesperson said.