Almost 40 per cent of people who were homeless or at risk of homelessness in Victoria were refused when seeking help last year, as the state’s social housing shortage grew more acute.

New figures reveal the Andrews government failed to increase the size of Victoria’s social housing stocks in its first term, instead overseeing a small decline in the amount of social housing across the state.

The number of people in Victoria being turned away while seeking social housing assistance is rising, a Productivity Commission report shows. Credit:Pat Scala

The Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services, published on Tuesday, reveals that Victoria has the second worst record in the country for failing to meet the housing needs of vulnerable people, behind NSW.

It also reveals that the state went backwards in tackling the problem during Labor’s first term.