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Additional Housing Support Available For 2009 Bushfire Survivors

Survivors of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires will be eligible for additional assistance from the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund to help them finalise the rebuilding of their homes, said Nationals Member for Morwell Russell Northe.

By Russell Northe - 15th August 2011 - Back to News

Mr Northe said a new gift will be given on top of the $200 million VBAF had paid to people requiring housing support since the February 2009 Bushfires.

"Many people who lost their homes during the 2009 bushfires have successfully rebuilt their homes, bought new properties, or otherwise found alternative, permanent accommodation," Mr Northe said.

"But we know there are some people who still require a bit of additional assistance - in many cases a relatively small amount of money – to help them obtain their certificate of occupancy and move in.

"This new gift will provide eligible households with up to $20,000 to finalise their housing needs.

"Households might need that money to purchase materials, connect essential services, or pay their remaining building bills.

"The Fund will work with local government, the Department of Human Services’ Bushfire Housing Service and the Rebuilding Advisory Service (RAS) to target those people still needing support, and we would be asking those people still requiring housing support to call the VBAF hotline on 1800 180 213 and register their details.

"The VBAF team will conduct a financial assessment and eligibility test, and then approved applicants will be put in touch their local RAS representatives, who will carry out a building assessment on the property to ascertain what works still need to be completed."

Mr Northe said VBAF was also preparing an assistance package for people with more complex housing circumstances, who require a range of additional support services to finalise their living arrangements.

"There is a relatively small group of people who need that extra help and we will be targeting assistance to those households shortly," he said.

"With these two allocations we are hoping to provide assistance to those people who have yet to finalise their living arrangements.

"While we know that everybody whose home was destroyed should have already received at least $100,000 from the Fund, and many people will have received more than $150,000, we are aware that some households still require extra support."

Mr Northe said the Fund has so far made more than 6000 payments to individuals and families whose homes were either destroyed or damaged in the 2009 Victorian bushfires.

russell.northe@parliament.vic.gov.au www.russellnorthe.com.au 66 George St, Morwell VIC 3840 ph 03 5133 9088 fax 03 5133 9388

"Of the $396 million raised during the Appeal, about $200 million went towards rehousing and recovery payments for those with destroyed and damaged properties and helping people suffering initial home dislocation after the fires."

Mr Northe urged people living in Gippsland communities who were affected by the fires to alert their friends and neighbours to the new gift.

"VBAF will be making contact with those people who we believe still require assistance," he said.

"But if you know of friends or neighbours who are in this position, let them know what’s available and ask them to contact the VBAF hotline to register their details."

VBAF Hotline: 1800 180 213

Media: Russell Northe 0408 225 523 / Julia Auciello 5133 9088

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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